Prisoners: Repatriation

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Attorney-General what steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to request that custodial sentences handed down to foreign nationals be served in prison in their own countries.

Edward Garnier: The Crown Prosecution Service has no power to request that a prisoner should serve their sentence in a foreign jurisdiction. Decisions on prisoner transfer agreements are a matter for the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke).

Fossil Fuels: Subsidies

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions took place at the Clean Energy Ministerial meeting on global fossil fuel subsidy reform on 25 and 26 April 2012.

Gregory Barker: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry), gave him on 17 January 2012, Official Report, columns 679-80W, that fossil fuel subsidy reform was not explicitly on the agenda of the Clean Energy Ministerial. However there was some limited discussion on fossil fuel subsidy reform in the light of the presentation from the International Energy Agency on its publication 'Tracking Clean Energy Progress' which outlined the need to level the playing field for clean energy technologies by, among others things:
	'building on G20 efforts to phase out the use of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, while ensuring access to affordable energy for all citizens'.

Meetings

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on what dates (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) senior officials in his Department have met representatives of (i) the Institute for Public Policy Research, (ii) the Taxpayers' Alliance, (iii) the Institute of Economic Affairs, (iv) ResPublica, (v) the Centre for Social Justice and (vi) Policy Exchange; and if he will publish the minutes and agendas of these meetings.

Gregory Barker: Meetings between DECC Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the Department's website, as are meetings between the permanent secretary and external organisations. For quarters which have not yet been published these will be published in due course.
	The Department tries to keep in touch with policy research and new thinking relevant to energy and climate change matters. Officials meet with a wide variety of organisations not limited to six listed in this question. I am aware of a number of meetings between senior officials and the organisations listed. Senior officials met with IPPR representatives on 18( )April 2011, 18 July 2011, 5 August 2011, 13 April 2012, Respublica representatives on 20 January 2011 a meeting and 26 June 2011 when a representative spoke at a ministerial event. There was a meeting between a senior official at a request from Policy Exchange on 14 December 2010. For meetings which are primarily directed towards learning about new work or research it would not be normal for there to be a formal agenda or minutes
	There are no meeting minutes or agendas for meetings with senior officials to publish.

Tidal Power

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential for tidal energy developments in Welsh coastal waters.

Gregory Barker: In 2007 the Government commissioned the further development of the UK Marine Renewables Energy Atlas. The. Atlas represents the most detailed regional description of potential marine energy resources in UK waters ever completed to date at a national scale.
	The Atlas is publicly available at:
	http://www.renewables-atlas.info/
	DECC also takes a strategic view on the environmental impacts of deploying wave and tidal energy technologies. The Department recently published its Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA 2) which considered Wave and Tidal Energy Technologies for England and Wales and concluded that there are no overriding environmental considerations to prevent the leasing of wave and tidal energy devices provided appropriate measures are implemented that prevent, reduce and offset significant adverse impacts on the environment and other users of the sea.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many days were utilised for paid facility time by each trade union representative in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies for trade union (i) duties and (ii) activities in 2011-12.

Gregory Barker: The Recognition Agreement between DECC and the recognised trade unions (the Public and Commercial Services Union, the FDA and Prospect) follows the ACAS Code of Practice “Time off for Trades Union Duties and Activities” and sets out the details of facility time agreed between parties.
	In 2011-12 DECC the number of days utilised for paid facility time duties were 218 and for paid facility time activities 38.
	The Department has responsibility for four non-departmental bodies:
	The Civil Nuclear Police Authority
	The Coal Authority
	The Committee on Climate Change
	The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
	These bodies did not hold this information.

Common Agricultural Policy

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress she has made in discussions with (a) her EU counterparts and (b) the European Commission on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Richard Benyon: The European Commission's Common Agricultural Policy proposals are currently being negotiated by member states in Agriculture Council and, for the first time, by the European Parliament under co-decision. Either the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), or the Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Mr Paice), has attended each monthly Agriculture Council and have met Agriculture Ministers from other member states to push the UK negotiating position and discuss reform of the CAP; we are working very hard to build alliances and gain support for the things we want.
	Since the new year, Ministers have also met EU colleagues in targeted bilaterals, including the Minister of State's visit to Prague to discuss capping with our Czech counterpart and the Secretary of State's discussions with German and Estonian Ministers during Berlin Green Week. Particular progress has been made through our active involvement with the Stockholm Group, comprising of Agriculture Ministers from Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Latvia and Estonia, in which Ministers have discussed alternatives to the Commission's unpopular greening proposals. The Commission has started to acknowledge member states' dissatisfaction and propose the necessary adjustments.

Floods: Insurance

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she is taking steps to ensure that flood insurance continues to be available as a feature of standard household and small business policies after the expiration of the Statement of Principles agreement between the UK Government and devolved governments and the insurance industry on 30 June 2013.

Richard Benyon: In 2008 the Government and the insurance industry agreed that the existing Statement of Principles would expire on 30 June 2013. A new shared understanding is being developed that sets out more clearly what individual customers can expect from their insurer and the Government. It will also reinforce the principle that action taken by communities, individuals, Government and businesses to reduce flood risk will be the best way of keeping insurance terms affordable in to the future.
	In the current spending period, the Government is spending over £2.17 billion on flood and coastal erosion risk management, thus offering better protection to over 145,000 homes.
	We are also considering the case for additional measures to help safeguard the affordability of flood insurance. We are in intensive negotiations with the insurance industry and will provide a further update in the near future.

Military Aircraft: Training

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pilots who are trained to operate Harriers will be retrained to fly STOVL.

Peter Luff: Detailed planning for the training of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Joint Strike Fighter pilots is currently being conducted. It is too soon to determine specifically how many Harrier pilots amongst existing UK trained pilots will be trained to fly the F-35B variant of Joint Strike Fighter. There will be no shortage of STOVL-experienced pilots with such personnel currently flying other aircraft or attached to flying duties in the US.

Land Use

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research her Department has undertaken on the scale of indirect land use change.

Norman Baker: ILUC (indirect land use change) is the term used when production of biofuels on existing agricultural land results in the displacement of production on to previously uncultivated land. This is a particular concern where that land has either high carbon stocks, such as rainforest, or high biodiversity value. The Government believes that ILUC must be urgently addressed at a European level through the introduction of 'ILUC factors' (specific greenhouse gas defaults applied to biofuel types) into the Renewable Energy Directive and Fuel Quality Directive.
	My officials have recently set up an expert working group consisting of stakeholders from industry, academia and NGOs to advise Government and appraise proposals for addressing ILUC. I have personally written to the European Commission on two occasions, highlighting the urgent need to finding a European agreed position which effectively addresses the impacts of ILUC.
	The last piece of ILUC research published by the Department is 'Regional level actions to avoid ILUC' available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/regional-level-actions-to-avoid-iluc

Manpower

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff (a) her Department and (b) its agencies employs in each parliamentary constituency.

Norman Baker: The Central Department and its seven executive agencies do not hold the information in the format requested.
	The answer could be provided in the requested format only at disproportionate costs. However a table has been placed in the Libraries of the House showing a breakdown of headcount by office location for the Central Department and its agencies.

Environmental Protection

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the UK's level of green growth between 2010 and 2012; and how this compares to other countries.

Mark Prisk: The Government has made no estimates of the level of green growth in the UK between 2010 and 2012. However independent research undertaken by K-Matrix and commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills estimates the global and national turnover of the Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS) market including forecasts. The most recent publication is for the 2009/10 financial year and includes forecasts up to 2015/16.
	According to K-Matrix, estimated turnover in the UK Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services sector was almost £116.8 billion in 2009/10. Turnover increased by 4.3% between 2008/09 and 2009/10. Furthermore, growth for 2010/11 and 2011/12 is forecast to be 4.8% and 5% respectively.
	The UK is sixth globally in terms of turnover in the LCEGS sector behind China, USA, India, Japan and Germany. France and Brazil place 7(th) and 8(th) respectively behind the UK. K-Matrix's 2009/10 turnover estimates for the top 10 countries are in the following table along with the percentage that turnover increased between 2008/09 and 2009/10.
	
		
			 Country Estimated turnover 2009/10 (£ million) Growth between 2008/09 and 2009/10 (percentage) 
			 USA 629,303 -0.5 
			 China 426,610 1.8 
			 India 199,115 2.6 
			 Japan 197,816 0.2 
			 Germany 135,677 3 
			 UK 116,780 4.3 
			 France 98,228 2.6 
		
	
	
		
			 Brazil 92,513 10.4 
			 Spain 87,345 2.4 
			 Italy 85,262 2.1 
		
	
	Global growth forecasts for 2010/11 and 2011/12 for the LCEGS sector are 3.7% in each year.
	Data for 2010/11 is due to be published later this week which will allow an assessment of how much the UK Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services market has grown between 2009/10 and 2010/11 as well as updated growth forecasts.

Insolvency Service: Stockton On Tees

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate has been made of the potential savings which would arise from the closure of the Stockton on Tees Insolvency Service.

Norman Lamb: holding answer 21 May 2012
	There are various costs associated with maintaining an Insolvency Service office in Stockton on Tees, including rent, rates, landlord charges and utilities. The costs associated with the current accommodation occupied by the Insolvency Service in Stockton, currently amounts to £160,000 a year.
	Any estimate of the net savings would be dependant upon decisions individual staff may take should a decision be made to close the office, including transferring to the nearest office, relocation or taking an exit scheme. Taking account of all other costs and benefits, and an assumption that 40% of staff would seek an exit scheme rather than relocation, a total estimate of net savings over a five year period would be in the region of £505,000.

Insolvency Service: Stockton On Tees

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what cost-benefit assessment has been made of the potential efficiency gains arising from closing the Stockton on Tees Insolvency Service against the standard of service provided.

Norman Lamb: holding answer 21 May 2012
	It is not expected that the closure of the Insolvency Service office in Stockton upon Tees will in itself lead to significant efficiency gains. However, on the assumption that 40% of staff would seek an exit scheme rather than relocation, the potential closure of this office does produce estimated cost savings in the region of £505,000 over a five year period (as set out in answer to PQ 108266).
	The impact of the potential closure on the standard of service provided is set out in the consultation document issued in March 2012 and this is something on which the consultation seeks stakeholder views. A copy of the consultation can be found in the Libraries of the House.

Insolvency Service: Stockton On Tees

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what calculations were made to arrive at the costs of office accommodation for the Stockton on Tees Insolvency Service in the March 2012 report.

Norman Lamb: holding answer 21 May 2012
	An estimated calculation for the costs and savings associated with a potential closure of the Insolvency Service office in Stockton on Tees, was arrived at by using the actual costs to the Insolvency Service of occupying the current accommodation in Stockton on Tees, together with an estimate of providing future accommodation in Stockton beyond the existing lease break.
	The total cost of providing new accommodation in Stockton upon Tees, (not including local relocation costs) is estimated at £667,000 over a five year period.
	No decision has yet been made about the closure of the Stockton office and will only be made following a full assessment of responses to the consultation.

Midland Main Railway Line

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Department for Transport on the economic effects of the upgrade and electrification of the Midland Main Line.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 21 May 2012
	The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) has not had discussions with the Department of Transport on the economic effects of the upgrade and electrification of the Midland Main Line.

Procurement

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of his Department's expenditure on procurement has gone to small and medium-sized enterprises since May 2010.

Norman Lamb: BIS' spend with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has been reported in the Cabinet Office report, Making Government business more accessible to SMEs—One Year On:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/making-government-business-more-accessible-smes-one-year

Regional Growth Fund

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made on the latest round of the Regional Growth Fund; and what steps he is taking to encourage organisations in Pendle and the North West to apply.

Mark Prisk: The third Regional Growth Fund (RGF) bidding round opened on 23 February and will close on 13 June.
	To help potential bidders, the RGF team has held a series of events around the country; there have been 14 events to date including a recent event in Liverpool on 15 May attended by my noble Friend Lord Heseltine. In addition, bidders have the opportunity to discuss their project by way of expression of interest meetings. These are one to one meetings where interested firms meet officials in the RGF Secretariat to obtain feedback on a draft application. So far 312 expression of interest meetings have been nationally.

Students: Employment

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to promote the economic and social benefits of employing postgraduate students to (a) private sector and (b) public sector organisations.

David Willetts: The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills funded Research Councils work with the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) to capture the destinations of doctoral students (which is published by Vitae in the ‘What do Researchers Do?’ series). The Research Councils are currently undertaking longitudinal studies to help determine the impact of doctoral training in the economy. This information is disseminated to universities and other employers.
	Over 50% of the nearly 12,000 UK and EU domiciled doctoral graduates produced each year will move from higher education, taking their skills into the wider economy. The Research Councils seek to ensure that this supply of highly trained people meets the need for specialist postgraduate research skills in a wide range of employment sectors. Doctoral students have increased opportunities to develop transferable skills, Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering (CASE) studentships and other forms of collaborative studentships such as the Engineering Doctorate enable many students to spend time working directly with a company.

Students: Finance

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Skills Funding Agency has registered any courses in close protection as appropriate for professional career development loans.

John Hayes: The Chief Executive of Skills Funding is responsible for all matters concerning the funding and contracting of post 19 education and training provision. I have therefore asked Geoff Russell, the chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency, to reply direct to the hon. Member on this matter.
	Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 22 May 2012
	Thank you for your question in asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Skills Funding Agency has registered any courses in close protection as appropriate for professional career development loans.
	Please be advised that the Agency can confirm that there are providers registered on the Professional and Careers Development Loans Register of Learning Providers with courses that include "close protection" in their titles.

Students: Mental Illness

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the number of university students who ended their course due to mental ill health in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11.

David Willetts: The information requested is not available. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record has information on the number of students who leave university for 'health reasons' but does not specify the type of health problem.

China

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Minister of State was informed of the death of Mr Neil Heywood on 15 November 2011 prior to or after his meeting with Bo Xilai on 16 November 2011.

Jeremy Browne: I met Bo Xilai on 16 November 2011, before consular officials learned of Mr Heywood's death. As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), said in his statement on 17 April 2012, Official  Report, columns 17-18WS, Ministers were first informed of the case of Mr Heywood's death on 7 February 2012.

Israel

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli government on progress in the peace process.

Alistair Burt: We have regular discussions with the Israeli Government on the Middle East Peace Process.
	Most recently the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to the new Israeli Vice Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz on 11 May and encouraged him to use the formation of the new Israeli Government coalition to launch a positive and decisive move on the peace process,
	The Secretary of State and I raised this issue during our respective meetings in the past month with the Israeli National Security Adviser and the Israeli ambassador to London. Our ambassador to Israel also regularly discusses this issue with senior Israeli Ministers and officials.

Israel

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on ensuring goods, services and products from illegal Israeli settlements are excluded from EU and member state procurement.

Alistair Burt: Our position on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is clear: they are illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and make a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, harder to achieve. We constantly urge the Israeli authorities to cease all settlement activity.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I have regular discussions with our EU counterparts on these issues. The EU Foreign Affairs Council most recently discussed issues relating to the Middle East Peace Process, including settlements, on 14 May. In the meeting's Conclusions, the EU and its member states:
	"reaffirmed their commitment to fully and effectively implement existing EU legislation and the bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products. The Council underlines the importance of the work being carried out together with the Commission in this regard."
	Full text of the Conclusions may be found at:
	http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/130195.pdf
	We regularly discuss with EU partners our assessment of Israeli settlement activity. There is currently no specific proposal for excluding goods, services and products from settlements from EU and member state procurement.

Sri Lanka

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to help facilitate the conciliation process between the different parties in Sri Lanka.

Alistair Burt: The British Government believes that reconciliation and lasting peace in Sri Lanka can best be achieved through an inclusive political solution that addresses the underlying causes of the conflict and takes into account the legitimate grievances and aspirations of all Sri Lanka's communities.
	We pressed for and welcome the Sri Lanka resolution agreed at the UN Human Rights Council in March. The resolution underlines the importance that governments across the world attach to supporting lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. We urge the Sri Lankan Government to take the necessary steps to implement the recommendations of their Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission as soon as possible and report to the Human Rights Council on steps taken and plans to ensure comprehensive implementation. With international partners, we will be pressing Sri Lanka to make early and sustained advances. We will use opportunities, including Sri Lanka's Universal Periodic Review in October, to assess progress.

Un Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) (a) to provide an explanation of why the Military Agreement No. 1 and Map No. A4-010 (deployment of MINURSO), have been removed from the MINURSO website and (b) to indicate where this information can now be obtained.

Alistair Burt: I understand that these documents were included in the Mission's old website but were not uploaded when it was redesigned. And Map No. A4-010 is out of date as the Mission now has an additional Liaison Office in Dakhla.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are liaising with the Mission to see where these documents can now be obtained publicly, with a view to placing copies in the House of Commons Library.

Western Sahara

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask HM Ambassador to Morocco to raise with the Moroccan authorities allegations of torture in the cases of Atiqu Barrai, Kamal Al Tarayh, Abd Al Aziz Barrai, Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheih, Mohamed Manolo and Hasna Al Wali who are members of Western Sahara Organisation Against Torture.

Alistair Burt: The British Government takes seriously all allegations of torture and we are encouraging Morocco to take steps to address this type of allegation, We have welcomed Morocco's decision to ratify the Optional Protocol on the Convention Against Torture and encouraged Morocco to implement fully the recommendations of the 2011 UN Committee Against Torture. We are also looking forward to the visit to Morocco and Western Sahara of the UN Special Rapporteur for Torture.

Social Mobility

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken to improve social mobility.

Nicholas Clegg: The Government has today published a full update on progress against the indicators for social mobility across all life stages, outlined in "Opening Doors, Breaking Barriers: A Strategy for Social Mobility" last April.
	As well as taking action in the early years and at school, we also need to follow through to adulthood. We want to ensure we are doing everything possible to widen participation at university and access to the professions.
	That is why, for example, we have asked Higher Education Funding Council England and Office for Fair Access to work together, with government, to consider how we maximise the impact of the investment we are making in widening participation.
	The Government looks forward to forthcoming reports from Alan Milburn on access to the professions and widening participation in higher education. The newly formed Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission will hold the Government to account on the progress it makes in these key areas.

Risk Assessment

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what strategic or transitional risk registers in each area of policy are held by his Office; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	Within the Cabinet Office each business group is accountable for managing their own risks and are responsible for both maintaining their associated risk registers and ensuring that their business plans and all projects, programmes or activities which deliver departmental strategic or corporate objectives, include the review of associated risks and that any mitigating actions are implemented.
	Risk registers are kept and maintained as is appropriate, at working level. A list of all risk registers used within the Department and its NDPBs is not held centrally.

Equitable Life

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an explanation in plain language of how the calculations for compensation for Equitable Life policyholders were made and detailing what parameters were used.

Mark Hoban: In May 2011 the scheme published the 'Equitable Life Payment Scheme Design', which sets out both a high level explanation and a more detailed technical description of the payment calculation.
	This document is available at
	http://equitablelifepaymentscheme.independent.gov.uk/resources/index.htm

Equitable Life

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether all Equitable Life policyholders eligible for compensation will receive their compensation by June 2012.

Mark Hoban: In accordance with the Government's announcement at the 2010 spending review, and the rules set out in the ‘Equitable Life Payment Scheme Design’ document:
	http://equitablelifepaymentscheme.independent.gov.uk/resources/index.htm
	payments to non-with profit annuitants will be spread over three years until April 2014, and payments to with-profits annuitants will continue for the duration of their annuity.

Financial Services: Education

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will read the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Education for Young People report on Financial Education and the Curriculum.

Mark Hoban: As part of the policy making process Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide range of interested parties. The school curriculum is the responsibility of the Department for Education. Through the National Curriculum Review the Department for Education (DFE) is developing the new mathematics curriculum and is aware of the interest in personal finance being included in the programme of study. DFE's review of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education will consider whether any aspects of PSHE such as personal financial education, should become statutory as part of the basic curriculum. Proposals from both reviews will be published later this year.

Income Tax

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the number of people in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency who will move into the higher tax bracket as a result of changes to tax thresholds.

David Gauke: Estimates of the number of individuals liable to higher rate income tax by country and region in tax years to 2012-13 are published on the HMRC website in Table 2.2 ‘Number of individual income taxpayers by marginal rate, gender and age, by country and region, 1999-2000 to 2012-13’:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-2.xls
	These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) outturn data up to 2009-10, and then 2009-10 SPI data projected in line with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2012 Economic and fiscal outlook.
	Reliable projections beyond the 2009-10 outturn are not available at the parliamentary constituency level, due to greater uncertainties in making projections for small geographical areas.

Offices

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what costs have been incurred by the Financial Services Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in relocating to and fitting out the new Moorgate offices; and what the total cost will be of the lease of the new offices to the Financial Services Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (a) in each of the next five financial years and (b) over the lifetime of the lease agreement.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 21 May 2012
	The Bank of England has incurred costs of £5 million, including both actual and committed spend, on the design, fit out and IT for the Prudential Regulation Authority's new offices in Moorgate. The FSA has not incurred any costs in relation to Moorgate.
	The terms of the lease are commercially sensitive. However the total rent incurred by the bank over the 15-year life of the lease will be £80 million (excluding VAT). This is subject to the outcome of regular rent reviews. During the first five years the bank will benefit from a rent-free period.

Research: Finance

Esther McVey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 23 April 2012, Official Report, column 602W, on research: funding, what support the Chancellor of the Exchequer is providing to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises in the area of research and development.

David Gauke: Research and Development (R&D) by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is supported by a number of Treasury policies.
	The tax system provides R&D tax credits and the SME scheme rate of relief was increased from 175% to 200% from 1 April 2011 and to 225% from 1 April 2012.
	SME R&D is also supported by public spending. The Technology Strategy Board's budget of £317 million in 2011-12 focused on supporting private sector research, development and innovation, including programmes such as SMART which joint funds SME R&D projects. The autumn statement given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, provided an additional £75 million to support technology-based SMEs to develop, demonstrate and commercialise new products and services. In December 2011, the Government announced a £180 million Biomedical Catalyst Fund that will provide support to SMEs or academics looking to develop innovative solutions to health care challenges.

Revenue and Customs

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department will take steps to extend the HM Revenue and Customs secure online login system to (a) enable individuals to view and update their personal details and (b) review and update the end-to-end data and information management requirements as part of the move to real time information; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC has over 100 electronic contact services available to customers, including services that allow customers to update their personal details. They offer a structured and secure means of communicating with HMRC through its website. HMRC continue to look at ways to extend their contact services but will only introduce electronic contact solutions where they are certain about the authenticity of the person sending the message and where there are strong controls around the data being sent.
	HMRC has recently published guidance for employers and individuals about how to ensure that the data HMRC receives as part of Real Time Information is accurate. Details of the information that will be required under RTI can be found on the HMRC website.

Revenue and Customs

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department plans to take to streamline the interaction between individuals and HM Revenue and Customs; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC have recently published a business plan for 2012-15 and within that has set out plans to streamline interactions between the Department and individuals during the current SR period. It includes as a priority improving accessibility, accuracy and timeliness.
	The business plan can be found at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/business-plan-2012.pdf
	Pages 8, 9, 11 and 19-22 are the most relevant to this subject.

Revenue and Customs

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of (a) the IT, National Insurance Contributions and PAYE-Small Business Behaviour and Attitudes (November 2011 to January 2012) and (b) Real Time Information (May 2011 to March 2012) poll.

David Gauke: HMRC conducted a survey of 1,500 small businesses to further develop the evidence base on employer burdens and to supplement the results of the call for evidence issued by HMT in July 2011. The survey focused on:
	employer payroll processes, including which income tax and national insurance contributions (NICs) processes are contracted out to agents, and how software use varies;
	difficulties with the current system, exploring which aspects of the current system are most difficult to operate or understand; and
	changes to the system, seeking views on which elements could be simplified and with what business impact.
	The research will be published and a copy will be placed in the Library.
	HMRC is conducting a series of customer research projects to inform the design and delivery of Real Time Information. Specialist research agencies have been commissioned to conduct primary research among customers on HMRCs behalf. Reports from completed projects will be published and copies placed in the Library.

Tax Allowances: Charitable Donations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on donations to community development finance institutions of the cap on community investment tax relief and the charity tax relief cap proposed in the 2012 Budget; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The Government announced at Budget 2012 a proposal to introduce a limit on all previously uncapped income tax reliefs from April 2013. This included the Community Investment Tax Relief (CITR).
	The Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) rely mainly on investments through the CITR. The Government has clearly stated its intention that those charities which rely on large donations are not significantly affected.
	There are currently discussions with stakeholders from the charity sector taking place to better understand any impacts. This will inform a formal consultation on the delivery of the measure over the summer.

Taxation: Bingo

Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the rate of gross profit tax levied on (a) bingo clubs and (b) bookmakers; and for what reasons the two rates are different.

Chloe Smith: The rates of general betting duty, and bingo duty were set by the previous Government. Bingo duty is charged at 20% of gross profits and general betting duty is charged at 15% of gross profits. The March 2012 Budget left rates unchanged. All taxes, including gambling taxes, are kept under review.

Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department took to reduce its carbon emissions in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Alan Duncan: DFID has carried out a large number of measures to significantly reduce its Carbon emissions over the last three years. Examples of these are as follows:
	(a) 2010:
	a. Installation of Voltage optimisation equipment in each of our UK offices, to reduce our electricity consumption;
	b. Installation of a Green Roof in our East Kilbride office;
	c. Installation of energy-efficient lighting in our London office;
	d. Improving energy efficiency by reducing the amount of occupied space in our London office and subletting.
	(b) 2011:
	a. Reduction in the hours of operation of heating plant in both our UK offices;
	b. Reconfiguration of lighting systems to reduce the time which sensor-operated lights remain on;
	c. Staff awareness campaign to switch off unnecessary items, etc.;
	d. Encouraging and increasing use of rail travel over air travel between our two UK offices.
	(c) 2012:
	a. Reduction in operation of cooling plant in our London office;
	b. Reductions in number of printers in both our UK offices;
	c. Reducing the number of IT servers in both of our UK offices.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much bilateral aid has been delivered by the UK Government to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last three years.

Andrew Mitchell: The latest official figures for British Government aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the last three years are:
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Financial year Total UK Aid DFID (share of UK total) 
			 2008-09 89 84 
			 2009-10 117 109 
			 2010-11 134 132 
			 Source: Statistics on International Development 2011, October 2011 
		
	
	In 2011-12 DFID provided £142 million in aid for the DRC through its bilateral programme. (Figures are not yet available for funding through global initiatives and other UK Government Departments).

Developing Countries: Science

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to support scientific research capacity in developing countries; and how much of his Department's budget has been allocated to supporting scientific research capacity in developing countries in the last five years.

Andrew Mitchell: The Government recognises the importance of increasing scientific capacity in developing countries, and in particular in Africa and resource poor parts of Asia, and DFID work is a major part of this. Strengthening scientific capacity is a long-term activity. Much of DFID's capacity building efforts have been embedded into our research programmes and projects. It is therefore difficult to allocate an accurate figure on supporting scientific research capacity in developing countries as a separate activity, although alongside this there are several standalone projects including; the £8 million Strengthening Capacity for Agricultural Research and Development in Africa (SCARDA) project; the £5 million Health Research Capacity Strengthening Initiative with the Wellcome Trust; and the £15 million Capacity Building African Initiative with the Royal Society.
	Further details of the steps DFID is currently undertaking to support research capacity in developing countries in a range of areas including agriculture, climate change, health, infrastructure, social science can be found in DFID's submission to the Science and Technology Select Committee which is examining exactly this issue.

Public Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many new public sector mutuals were created or spun-off by his Department in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development has not created or spun off any new public sector mutuals in either 2010 -11 or 2011-12.

Crime Prevention

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the community crime fighters programme.

James Brokenshire: There has been no formal assessment of the programme. Our commitment is to encourage community activism, with government freeing up local people to make decisions for them about how best to tackle crime problems in their neighbourhoods in line with the government's commitment to localism. We believe that communities are also best placed to assess the effectiveness of initiatives.
	With the election of police and crime commissioners in November 2012 the public will, for the first time, have a direct role in determining local priorities and holding the police to account for delivery of those priorities. Police and crime commissioners will be able to use their local knowledge to assess the programmes delivered in their area and fund those which are suitable.

Crime: Nature Conservation

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Wildlife Crime Priority for raptor persecution incorporates crime that meets her Department's definition of serious and organised crime.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 17 May 2012
	"Local to Global", the Government's Organised Crime Strategy, defines organised crime as the capacity and capability to commit serious crime on a continuing basis, which includes elements of planning, control and co-ordination, and benefits those involved. Wildlife crime, including raptor persecution, can be a manifestation of this.

Entry Clearances

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time taken to process visas was by category of visa, in each of the last three years; and what the longest time taken was in each category in each such year.

Damian Green: The information requested is provided in the following tables.
	
		
			 Non-Settlement Visas 
			 Percentage 
			  2009 2010 2011 
			 Category %  3 weeks %  6 weeks %  12 weeks %  3 weeks %  6 weeks %  12 weeks %  3 weeks %  6 weeks %  12 weeks 
			 EEA Family Permits 90 95 98 92 97 99 92 97 99 
			 Family Visit 93 98 100 94 99 100 95 99 100 
			 Other Non Settlement 91 96 99 93 98 99 93 96 100 
			 Other Visitor 97 99 100 97 100 100 96 100 100 
			 PBS Tier 1 82 94 98 88 96 99 87 98 100 
			 PBS Tier 2 96 99 100 94 99 100 94 99 100 
			 PBS Tier 4 81 94 98 81 87 91 86 92 96 
			 PBS Tier 5 95 100 100 97 99 100 97 99 100 
			 Student 79 90 94 85 92 96 95 98 99 
			 Transit 98 99 100 98 99 99 98 100 100 
			 Work permit 86 95 99 89 97 98 90 97 99 
			 Working Holiday Maker 2 11 29 68 77 81 50 50 75 
		
	
	
		
			 Settlement visas 
			 Percentage 
			 Calendar year %  12 weeks %  24 weeks 
			 2009 92 99 
			 2010 88 95 
			 2011 91 98 
		
	
	
		
			 Average visa processing times in days 
			 Category 2009 2010 2011 
			 EEA Family Permits 8.2 5.9 6.4 
			 Family Visit 4.9 4.6 5.4 
			 Other Non Settlement 6.0 5.0 5.5 
			 Other Visitor 3.3 3.3 4.5 
		
	
	
		
			 PBS Tier 1 9.9 8.4 8.6 
			 PBS Tier 2 3.5 4.3 4.7 
			 PBS Tier 4 9.4 15.9 9.5 
			 PBS Tier 5 4.0 4.1 3.5 
			 Settlement 23.6 28.7 31.0 
			 Student 14.2 13.4 5.5 
			 Transit 2.0 2.7 2.8 
			 Work permit 7.3 7.6 8.3 
			 Working Holiday Maker 83.1 21.0 19.7 
		
	
	
		
			 Longest Processing Times (days) 
			  ECS_Days_to_Resolve 
			 Endorsement  c ategory 2009 2010 2011 
			 Family Visit 248 254 257 
			 Other Visitor 247 259 262 
			 Work permit 219 243 232 
			 Transit 149 187 175 
			 Student 247 252 169 
			 Working Holiday Maker 256 39 59 
			 EEA Family Permits 242 242 245 
			 Other Non Settlement 244 258 236 
			 Settlement 347 348 350 
			 PBS Tier 1 238 221 246 
			 PBS Tier 2 166 258 235 
			 PBS Tier 4 146 259 259 
			 PBS Tier 5 126 277 203 
			 Notes: 1. Withdrawn and Lapsed Applications not included. 2. Ceiling of 366 calendar days to resolve used for non-settlement cases. 3. Ceiling of 500 calendar days to resolve used for settlement cases. 4. The above figures exceed targets because they are likely to be highly complex cases where the application had to be: (i) Deferred for further information from the applicant or a third party. (ii) Referred to the 'Referred Case Unit' in Croydon because a decision could not be made at the Post.

Entry Clearances: Appeals

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target time her Department has set for the time taken between promulgation of an entry clearance appeal determination when the appellant is successful and the issuing of entry clearance to the appellant.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency aims to establish whether an appeal should be contested within five working days from a decision being promulgated.
	Appeals that are not contested are referred back to the relevant Visa Section, who aim to issue any relevant entry clearance within eight weeks of receiving the referral. Timescales can be affected by the standard of the postal, telephone and e-mail services in some locations in which International Group operates.

Extradition

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to publish her response to the review of the UK's extradition arrangements by Scott Baker.

Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), is currently giving very careful consideration to the recommendations made by Sir Scott Baker and will announce what action the Government will take in response to the review shortly.

Immigration Controls

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse was of the transfer of additional UK Border Force and UK Border Agency staff to London airports from other locations over the May 2012 bank holiday weekend.

Damian Green: We do not disclose this type of information on the grounds it may be prejudicial to operations and therefore security.

Internet: Fraud

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps she plans to take to deal with rogue websites which sell illegal driving licences and other documents;
	(2)  what steps the Government plans to take to close down web traders who sell illegal documents;
	(3)  what plans the Government has to raise awareness amongst consumers of the dangers and consequences of acquiring illegal driving licences and other documents through the internet.

Nick Herbert: The Government is concerned about the harms caused by websites that sell false documents. Law enforcement agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Service, the City of London Police the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the Police Central e-Crime Unit deploy a range of tactics to close down such websites and remove payment facilities where grounds exist to suspect criminal offences.
	Recent initiatives have also included sending letters to websites offering false documents warning them to stop their activity or risk being prosecuted.

Lost Property

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many items of equipment valued at £10,000 or more her Department lost in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), can confirm that no item of equipment valued at £10,000 or more has been lost in 2010-11 or 2011-12.

Manpower

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff (a) her Department and (b) its agencies employs in each parliamentary constituency.

Damian Green: There are currently 650 parliamentary constituencies within the UK and it is not possible to provide a response along these lines without incurring disproportionate cost. Office for National Statistics (ONS) requires all public sector organisations to report their workforce data using Government Regions.
	Table 1 provides the number of staff (a) in the Department and (b) in its Executive Agencies by Government Region.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of civil servants employed by the Home Office and its Executive Agencies by region (1) 
			  (a) (b) 
			 Region Departmental Total Criminal Records Bureau Headquarters  (2) Identity and Passport Service United Kingdom Border Agency (2) National Fraud Authority 
			 East Midlands 166.58 — 57.64 3.99 104.95 — 
			 East of England 1,053.38 — 468.02 407.34 178.02 — 
			 London 10,621.68 — 4,697.61 539.02 5,343.51 41.54 
			 North East 853.04 — 114.02 590.48 148.53 — 
			 North West 3,852.18 475.43 535.21 959.03 1,882.51 — 
			 Scotland 637.16 — 223.04 162.59 251.53 — 
			 South East 3,507.67 — 3,059.41 18.83 429.43 — 
			 South West 302.03 — 182.37 17.00 102.66 — 
			 Wales 485.60 — 132.65 158.83 194.13 — 
			 West Midlands 654.70 — 244.46 11.69 398.54 — 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 2,045.40 — 290.37 13.50 1,741.53 — 
			 Northern Ireland 276.78 — 73.30 159.34 44.15 — 
		
	
	
		
			 Brussels-Capital Region 28.00 — 27.00 — 1.00 — 
			 Lower-Normandy 19.18 — 19.18 — — — 
			 Paris-Isle-De-France 56.00 — 56.00 — — — 
			 North-Calais 32.33 — 32.33 — — — 
			 Not recorded 14.27 2.00 8.05 2.22 2.00 — 
			 Grand total 24,605.98 477.43 10,220.67 3,043.85 10,822.49 41.54 
			 (1) Paid civil servants in line with Office for National Statistics workforce reporting. (2) On 1 March 2012 the Border Force moved under a Machinery of Government change from UKBA to Headquarters. Extract Date: 30th April 2012 Source: Data View, the Home Office's single source of monthly Human Resources data

Sexual Offences: Drugs

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department's Safer Clubbing guidance was last reviewed and updated.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 21 May 2012
	The London Drug Policy Forum's 'Safer Nightlife' guidance was published in 2008, in collaboration with the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers and other key partners. The Home Office has no current plans to review or update this guidance.

Academies: Finance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how the amount top-sliced from local authorities' general funds for academies was calculated in 2012-13; what the link between funds taken and the number of academies in each local authority area was; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 16 May 2012
	We announced in December 2010 that deductions would be made from Formula Grant in 2011-12 and 2012-13 to reflect the transfer of responsibilities from local authorities to academies. Local authorities receive Formula Grant on a per-pupil basis and until 2011-12 no reduction was made for pupils that were in academies. This meant that local authorities kept the same level of Formula Grant to fund services to schools even when they had fewer schools to support because one or more schools had converted to academy status.
	At the time of the decision we were only able to make estimates about the growth in the number of academies at a national level, so reductions in local authority budgets were calculated on a pro-rata national basis. The top-slice was not therefore related to the current pattern of academy schools, nor did it reflect the pattern of growth in academy numbers which has subsequently taken place.
	We have since announced that at the end of the 2012-13 financial year we will make a calculation of the number of pupils in academies in each local authority to determine the amount each local authority's budget should have been reduced by that year. Where the amount is less than the amount top-sliced from the local authority's budget, we will refund of the difference. There are a number of authorities where the top-slice was less than should have been deducted given the number of academies they have. To maintain stability in local authorities' budgets we have agreed not to seek to recoup this funding.

Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his Department's total level of carbon emissions was between (a) 1 April 2010 and 1 April 2011 and (b) 2 April 2011 and 1 April 2012.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education's total carbon dioxide emissions are reported as part of the Annual Accounts returned to Treasury.
	(a) For the financial year 2010/11 (1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011) the Department emitted 14,887 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
	(b) For the financial year 2011/12 (1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012) the Department emitted 13,597 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
	The above emissions values include official UK business travel and encompass the arm’s length bodies and Executive agencies of the Department with the exception of the Young People's Learning Agency as their emissions are captured within shared accommodation arrangements with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	In 2010/11, DFE participated in the Prime Minister's 10% carbon commitment to reduce office-based carbon emissions by 10% over 12 months. During this period, the Department reduced its emissions by 21.5% compared to the previous 12 months.

Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures his Department introduced to reduce its carbon emissions in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education has focused its carbon reduction activity throughout 2010-12 on low and no-cost measures, supported by a small number of capital investments. During the period in question, the following measures were introduced:
	Key measures in 2010 included:
	Installing high efficiency lighting;
	Installing variable speed drives (VSD) on Air Handling Units (AHUs);
	Estate rationalisation and co-location;
	Relocating its Sheffield HQ building to a property with solar thermal and solar PV installations;
	Re-programming Building Management System (BMS) to be more demand based;
	Running staff awareness energy efficiency campaigns;
	Switching-off unnecessary lighting;
	Adjusting building temperature set points to reduce heating and cooling requirements.
	Key measures in 2011 included:
	Installing VSDs on heat pumps;
	Installing additional automated meter reading (AMR) devices across the estate;
	Monitoring and targeting unexpected building energy profiles through AMR-generated data;
	Revising AHU Control Strategies;
	Introducing thin-client computers.
	Key measures in 2012 to date include:
	Regular fine tuning of the BMS;
	Introducing thin-client computers;
	Installing LED lighting;
	Reducing operating hours of major plant and equipment;
	Shutting down buildings even more effectively during unoccupied periods.
	Environmental audits are planned across our estate to identify further measures to reduce our emissions throughout 2012.

Consultants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on external consultants, including management consultants, in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education's expenditure on external consultants including management consultants in
	(a) Financial year 2010-11 was £19.8 million
	(b )Financial year 2011-12 was £3.93 million.
	You might also be interested to know the expenditure in previous years:
	(i) Financial year 2008-09 was £59 million
	(ii) Financial year 2009-10 was £57.4 million.

Extracurricular Activities: Standards

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to promote awareness among schools of British Standard 8848 on overseas adventure activities; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: We have no plans to promote awareness among schools of British Standard 8848; the specification for provision of visits, fieldwork, expeditions and adventurous activities abroad with which UK organisations may voluntarily comply. The Department for Education has published simplified health and safety advice for schools, which covers school trips, setting out the need for schools to comply with their duties under health and safety law when planning trips abroad.

Financial Services: Education

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  if he will make the teaching of financial literacy a compulsory part of the planned new national curriculum in secondary schools;
	(2)  if he will encourage businesses outside the financial services sector to support the provision of financial literacy in secondary schools;
	(3)  if he will encourage more businesses in the financial services sector to volunteer in schools to support teachers in teaching financial capability;
	(4)  if he will include teaching financial capability as a mandatory part of training for new teachers;
	(5)  if he will increase the personal finance elements of mathematics teaching;
	(6)  if he will create a database of personal finance teaching resources and volunteers aimed at young people to be made available to teachers.

Nick Gibb: Finance education is currently taught as part of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education. We will be looking at the provision for finance education as part of the review to determine how we can improve the quality of all PSHE teaching and support teachers to teach the subject well. We will consider whether aspects of the subject should become statutory as part of the basic curriculum and this of course includes finance education.
	Support from businesses in and outside the financial services sector is important in helping schools with their finance education programmes. In fact, schools are already drawing on expertise from financial institutions, and organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau to help teachers improve financial capability with finances. However, we want schools to have the flexibility to use their judgment about how best to deliver finance education including which external partners to use.
	The new Teachers' Standards, which set out what is expected of all qualified teachers, require teachers to be able to plan out of class activities to consolidate and extend the knowledge and understanding pupils have acquired. It is for training providers to decide what trainees should be taught to enable them to achieve the Teachers' Standards. The Department does not mandate content of initial teacher training courses.
	The aim of the National Curriculum review is to determine a core of essential knowledge that pupils need to succeed. As part of the review we are currently developing new programmes of study for mathematics to ensure that it reflects the core mathematical knowledge and skills in preparing students for the wider world.
	We have no plans to create a database of personal finance education teaching resources and volunteers aimed at young people to be made available to teachers. There are a number of sources where schools can obtain such information, including, for example, the Personal Finance Education Group who have a wide range of resources on their website aimed at teachers and finance education practitioners.
	We set out, in the White Paper, ‘The Importance of Teaching’, how schools will be freed from the constraints of central Government direction, including trusting the professional judgment of teachers in deciding on the teaching that best meets the needs of their pupils.

Free School Meals

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for 
	(1)  Education how many children in (a) Bristol and (b) nationally are eligible for free school meals;
	(2)  what proportion of children eligible for free school meals in (a) Bristol and (b) nationally take them.

Nick Gibb: Information on the number and percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Information on how many pupils meet the eligibility criteria but do not make a claim is not available.
	The information provided here for January 2011 is published in tables 11a to 11d of the Statistical First Release 'Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2011' available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001012/index.shtml

Free School Meals: South Yorkshire

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children received free school meals in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley Metropolitan Borough and (c) South Yorkshire in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) 2011.

Nick Gibb: Information on the number and percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals is shown in the tables.
	Information on the number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals as at January 2011 is published in the Statistical First Release 'Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2011' available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001012/index.shtml
	
		
			 Maintained nursery, state-funded primary, state-funded secondary, special schools and pupil referral units (1,2,3,4,5) : January 2008 to 2011 
			  Number and percentage of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			  2008 
			  Number  on roll (6,7) Number  of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (6,7) Percentage  known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 England 6,829,670 1,076,240 15.8 
			     
			 South Yorkshire 179,340 31,325 17.5 
			 Of which:    
			 Barnsley 30,777 5,707 18.5 
			 Doncaster 41,794 7,229 17.3 
			 Rotherham 39,481 6,764 17.1 
			 Sheffield 67,290 11,623 17.3 
			     
			 Barnsley East Constituency 10,809 2,316 21.4 
		
	
	
		
			  Number and percentage of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			  2009 
			  Number  on roll (6,7) Number  of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (6,7) Percentage  known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 England 6,786,750 1,096,525 16.2 
			     
			 South Yorkshire 176,750 31,970 18.1 
			 Of which:    
			 Barnsley 30,150 5,973 19.8 
			 Doncaster 41,036 7,549 18.4 
			 Rotherham 36,801 6,721 17.3 
			 Sheffield 65,762 11,726 17.6 
			     
			 Barnsley East Constituency 10,622 2,461 23.2 
		
	
	
		
			  Number and percentage of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			  2010 (5) 
			  Number  on roll (6,7) Number  of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (6,7) Percentage  known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 England 6,796,500 1,184,920 17.4 
		
	
	
		
			 South Yorkshire 175,640 34,515 19.7 
			 Of which:    
			 Barnsley 29,849 6,436 21.6 
			 Doncaster 40,834 8,425 20.6 
			 Rotherham 38,435 7,193 18.7 
			 Sheffield 66,520 12,463 18.7 
			     
			 Barnsley East Constituency 10,637 2,657 25.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Number and percentage of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			  2011 (5) 
			  Number  on roll (6,7) Number  of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (6,7) Percentage  known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 England 6,803,755 1,227,110 18.0 
			     
			 South Yorkshire 174,730 35,445 20.3 
			 Of which:    
			 Barnsley 29,663 6,784 22.9 
			 Doncaster 40,487 8,418 20.8 
			 Rotherham 38,154 7.162 18.8 
			 Sheffield 66,428 13,080 19.7 
			     
			 Barnsley East Constituency 10,632 2,745 25.8 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes primary academies. (3) Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies. (4) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (5) From 2010, includes pupil referral units (when the collection became pupil level). (6) Includes full time and part time pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. Includes boarding pupils. In pupil referral units, also includes pupils registered with other providers and further education colleges. (7) Pupils who have full time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part time attendance and are aged between five and 15. Note: National and regional totals have boon rounded to the nearest 5. Source: School Census

Free School Meals: Universal Credit

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the publication, universal credit: the impact on passported benefits, when he expects to publish the consultation on eligibility for free school meals within universal credit.

Nick Gibb: The introduction of universal credit in 2013 means that the Government has to change the way it calculates eligibility for free school meals, and we expect to consult on our plans shortly.

Grove School: Nottinghamshire

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he received representations from the Grove School in Nottinghamshire on its closure during the winter because classrooms were too cold for teaching and learning.

Nick Gibb: The Department has no record of receiving any representations from the Grove School in Nottinghamshire on its closure during the winter because classrooms were too cold for pupils to receive their education.

Home Education

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken to ensure that parents who are home-educating their children are providing a suitable education for their children.

Nick Gibb: Parents who educate their child at home have a duty to ensure that the child receives an education that is suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs they have. Local authorities have a duty to act where they identify a child that is not receiving a suitable education.

Pre-school Education: Nuneaton

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many families he expects to be eligible for the extension in hours of childcare available to the poorest families in Nuneaton constituency;
	(2)  how many families he expects to be eligible for free early education for the poorest two-year-olds in Nuneaton constituency.

Sarah Teather: Since September 2010 all three and four-year-olds have been entitled to 15 hours a week of free early education, up from 12.5 hours.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced in the autumn statement that free early education will be extended to around 260,000 two-year-olds. The Government intends to take a phased approach to the implementation of the new entitlement. The 20% most disadvantaged two-year-olds will be eligible from September 2013. From 2014, the entitlement will be extended to around 40% of two-year-olds.
	We estimate that around 300 two-year-olds living within Nuneaton and Bedworth borough council are likely to be eligible for the entitlement from September 2013. We are considering eligibility criteria for the second phase, and will consult in due course.

Pupils: Nuneaton

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many (a) schools and (b) pupils in Nuneaton constituency have participated in the pupil premium in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how much additional funding his Department plans to make available to schools in the Nuneaton constituency as a result of the pupil premium.

Sarah Teather: The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011 and allocations have so far been made for the 2011-12 financial year only. For 2011-12 the pupil premium funding was £488 per pupil in respect of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM), and for children in care who have been continuously looked after for at least six months and £200 per pupil for those whose parents are serving in the armed forces. In 2011-12 in Nuneaton constituency 33 schools received the pupil premium in respect of 2,060 eligible pupils, totalling £995,000.
	In 2012-13 the pupil premium amount in respect of pupils known to be eligible for FSM has risen from £488 to £600 per FSM pupil and will be extended to cover pupils who have been FSM within the last six years. Allocations for the pupil premium in 2012-13 will not be confirmed until June, when the January 2012 pupil numbers are available centrally. Based on 2011-12 data, £1,836,000 pupil premium funding would be made available in 2012-13 to schools in the Nuneaton constituency.

School Meals: Nutrition

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on the proportion of (a) free schools and (b) academies opened since September 2010 which have voluntarily complied with the Education (Nutritional Standards and Requirements for School Food) (England) Regulations 2007;
	(2)  if he will make an assessment of the nutritional standards of school meals at free schools and academies opened since 2010.

Sarah Teather: The Department does not hold information on the proportion of all free schools and academies, opened since September 2010, who have voluntarily complied with the Education (Nutritional Standards and Requirements for School Food) (England) Regulations 2007.
	The school food standards, set out in The Education (Nutritional Standards and Requirements for School Food) (England) Regulations 2007, apply to maintained schools and, through funding agreements, to academies established prior to the Academies Act 2010. Since the Act, new funding agreements for academies or free schools are not required to specify compliance with the standards. We believe that it is likely that most new academies will continue to comply with the standards, because they will have converted from maintained schools that have always met the standards.
	The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), asked the School Food Trust to look at the approach taken by academies to providing healthy school food. The trust undertook a qualitative study with a mixture of established and new academies, including one free school, and examined the quality of provision to provide a baseline of food provision in academies, and demonstrate the attitudes and intentions of the sector. The trust published its report on the study on 15 May 2012. This shows that all of the academies interviewed identified food as important and a part of education.

Schools: Food

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the standard of school food in academies and free schools since the requirement for them to abide by the Education (Nutritional Standards and Requirements for School Food) (England) Regulations 2007 was lifted;
	(2)  what (a) discussions he has had with and (b) representations he has received from representatives of academies and free schools on school food;
	(3)  whether he has made an estimate of the number of academies and free schools which are selling food and drink products through tuck shops and vending machines which would not be permitted under the provisions of the Education (Nutritional Standards and Requirements for School Food) (England) Regulations 2007;
	(4)  what representations (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have received from (i) food and drink manufacturers and (ii) vending machine providers on the sale of food and drink products in free schools and academies;
	(5)  how many and what proportion of free schools and academies operate stay on site policies during school hours;
	(6)  what guidance his Department issues to free schools and academies on the (a) deployment, (b) content and (c) pricing of vending machines on school premises;
	(7)  how many free schools and academies have (a) received and (b) been offered sponsorship or donations from (i) food and drink manufacturers and (ii) providers of vending machines or other in-school snack retailing;
	(8)  whether he plans to take any action in the event that any academies or free schools are found to be supplying school meals and other food which does not meet the Education (Nutritional Standards and Requirements for School Food) (England) Regulations 2007.

Sarah Teather: The school food standards, set out in The Education (Nutritional Standards and Requirements for School Food) (England) Regulations 2007, apply to maintained schools and, through Funding Agreements, to academies established prior to the Academies Act 2010. Since the Act, new funding agreements for academies or free schools are not required to specify compliance with the standards.
	The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), asked the School Food Trust to look at the approach taken by academies to providing healthy school food. The trust undertook a qualitative study with a mixture of established and new academies, including one free school, and examined the quality of provision to provide a baseline of food provision in academies, and demonstrate the attitudes and intentions of the sector. The report on the study was published on 15 May 2012. This showed that all of the academies interviewed identified food as an important part of overall education provision. Some academies go over and above the minimum requirements and are offering their pupils high quality, nutritional food. The study showed that the academies outperformed maintained schools in all but one of the food standards, but that there is room for improvement in all schools, as evidenced by the Secondary School Food Survey, published by the School Food Trust on 28 April. This demonstrates that academies appear to be no worse overall at meeting food-based standards at lunchtime than other schools.
	The Department takes this matter very seriously, and wants all pupils to have the opportunity to select a healthy, balanced school lunch. The Department will consider this new evidence—and that from the trust's Secondary School Food Survey—to determine how best to achieve this policy aim.
	Ministers and officials have not had discussions or received representations from representatives of academies and free schools; or received representations from food and drink manufacturers or vending machine providers on the sale of food and drink products in free schools and academies.
	The Department has not issued guidance to schools, including to free schools and academies, about vending machines. As is the case with maintained schools, free schools and academies may determine whether to have such facilities, and if they do, which items to offer for sale. Vending machines can help some schools to deal more quickly with busy lunchtime services.
	The Department does not collect information about the number of schools, including free schools and academies, who have received or been offered sponsorship from either food and drink manufacturers or providers of vending machines or other snack retailing.
	The Department does not collect information about the number of free schools and academies that operate stay on site policies during school hours.

Schools: Food

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent (a) discussions he has had with and (b) representations he has received from representatives of (i) catering companies, (ii) child health organisations and (iii) other organisations on school food.

Sarah Teather: The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), met with Jamie Oliver on 23 June 2011 to discuss school food and cooking. I also met recently with my colleague, Zac Goldsmith MP and his constituent Stephanie Wood, of School Food Matters, to discuss school food. Jamie Oliver was due to attend this meeting but cancelled.
	The Department has received recent correspondence from MPs and members of the public. Officials have also received correspondence and had discussions with organisations, including the School Food Trust, the Children's Society, the Children's Food Campaign, LACA (formerly the Local Authority Caterers Association), Food for Life, Barnardo's, Save the Children, Sustain, Family Action and the Child Poverty Action Group, on school food and free school meals.
	We have not had discussions with, or received any representations from catering companies.

Teachers: Training

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will consider the use of training days for primary school teachers to refresh their mathematics skills.

Nick Gibb: Good quality mathematics teaching in primary schools is fundamental to improving attainment. It ensures children leave primary school proficient and prepared for more complex mathematics in secondary schools. While we encourage primary schools to develop the mathematical subject knowledge of their teachers, it is for the senior leadership within primary schools to decide how training and support for teachers is managed.
	The Government is supporting this by providing £6 million over three years for the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) which coordinates and quality assure continuing professional development for mathematics teachers at primary and secondary level.

Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what his Department's total level of carbon emissions was between (a) 1 April 2010 and 1 April 2011 and (b) 2 April 2011 and 1 April 2012;
	(2)  what steps his Department took to reduce its carbon emissions in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Jonathan Djanogly: Carbon dioxide emissions from the Ministry of Justice estate between April 2010 and April 2011 amounted to 502,823 tonnes of carbon as reported in the Ministry's Carbon Reduction Commitment submission to the Environment Agency and the Department for Food and Environmental Affairs; this does not include any emissions from transport. The Ministry is unable to provide figures for April 2012 as it is still collating and validating this data.
	During 2010-11 and 2011-12 the Ministry of Justice established programmes of work to reduce carbon emissions across the estate. These programmes comprised capital measures including installing voltage optimisation equipment and new energy-efficient boilers: quick wins including installing timer switches, thermostatic controls, altering set points for heating and cooling and chillers; and behavioural change campaigns to increase staff awareness. Similar projects will be delivered in 2012-13 as part of our contribution to the Greening Government Commitments.

Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what (a) grants and (b) contracts his Department has awarded to companies or organisations run by individuals who were previously employed in any capacity by (i) the Conservative party or its elected representatives and (ii) the Liberal Democrat party or its elected representatives since May 2010; what the (A) value and (B) nature was of these contracts; and whether they were publicly advertised;
	(2)  what (a) grants and (b) contracts his Department has awarded to companies or organisations run by individuals who previously held an elected position as a member of the (i) Conservative party and (ii) Liberal Democrat party since May 2010; what the (A) value and (B) nature was of these contracts; and whether they were publicly advertised.

Kenneth Clarke: As part of this Government's Transparency agenda, since 2010 all contracts over the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder.

Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which individuals have been paid by his Department for consultancy or other services 
	(1)  who were previously employed in any capacity by the (a) Conservative Party or its elected representatives and (b) Liberal Democrat Party or its elected representatives since May 2010; what the (i) cost and (ii) nature was of the services provided; and whether they were publicly advertised;
	(2)  who previously held an elected position as a member of the (a) Conservative Party and (b) Liberal Democrat Party since May 2010; what the (i) cost and (ii) nature was of the services provided; and whether they were publicly advertised.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice does not keep a central record of whether an individual engaged for consultancy or other services has previously been employed by a political party, or held an elected position as a member of a political party. To obtain this information would require an examination of the background of all workers engaged for consultancy of other services. This would incur a disproportionate cost. The procurement of consultancy is handled by the Ministry in accordance with consultancy and professional services procurement requirements and in line with direction from the Cabinet Office Efficiency and Reform Group.

Consultants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on external consultants, including management consultants, in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice has spent the following on external consultants, including management consultants, in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. The procurement of consultancy is handled by the Ministry in accordance with consultancy and professional services procurement requirements and in line with direction from the Cabinet Office Efficiency and Reform Group. Any consultancy spend over £20,000 is subject to a rigorous Department approval process which is signed off by a senior official.
	(a)2010-11: £3,908,790.33
	(b) 2011-12: £3,791,233.67.
	The spend figures above are based on MOJ core spend; it does not include any Executive Agencies, arms length bodies or non-departmental public bodies.

Consultants

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 25 April 2012, Official Report, column 918W, on consultants, what payments were made to (a) Accenture, (b) PA Consulting, (c) the Bourton Group and (d) Orion Partners.

Kenneth Clarke: I am unable to answer the right hon. Member at this time. The payment figures requested pre date the current Accounts Payable system.
	My officials will need to compile data from two historical systems and validate that data before I can answer comprehensively.
	I will write to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

Investigatory Powers Tribunal

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has received since its establishment; and how many of these complaints have resulted in a ruling being made.

James Brokenshire: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Home Department.
	Information regarding the number of complaints made to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal is publicly available and set out in their annual report for 2010, which contains the number of complaints made annually since 2001 and the rulings and outcomes of those complaints made in 2010. A link to the report can be found at:
	http://www.ipt-uk.com/docs/IPTAnnualReportFINAL.PDF
	The report states that the number of complaints made to the Tribunal are:
	
		
			  Number of  c omplaints 
			 2001 95 
			 2002 137 
			 2003 110 
			 2004 90 
		
	
	
		
			 2005 80 
			 2006 86 
			 2007 66 
			 2008 136 
			 2009 157 
			 2010 164 
		
	
	The total number of cases upheld since 2000 is 10.
	one case in 2005
	two cases in 2008
	one case in 2009
	six cases in 2010
	Further detail of cases which the Tribunal has found in favour of complainants can be found on the IPT website:
	www.ipt-uk.com

Judges: Northumberland

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received from magistrates in the Northumbria area on the proposal to appoint two additional district judges; and what the projected cost is of this proposal.

Jonathan Djanogly: A protocol for creating a District Judge (Magistrates Court) post was agreed between the Ministry of Justice, the Senior Presiding Judge, the Magistrates Association and the National Bench Chairs forum. A consultation was undertaken in accordance with the Protocol for the creation of two District Judge (Magistrates Court) posts in Northumbria. Magistrates were able to make representations in the process via respective Bench Chairs, the Magistrates' Association, and the Northumbria Advisory Committee. In addition to the consultation six MPs have written to the Minister for Courts after hearing representations from Magistrates in the area.
	In 2011 the Ministry of Justice published research carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Department into the relative cost and efficiency of the lay bench and District Judges. It concluded that the overall costs of the two benches were broadly comparable.

Magistrates

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on the number of magistrates who have a criminal conviction.

Jonathan Djanogly: This information is not held centrally by my Department. To obtain this information would require a manual check of the individual records of 26,000 magistrates, which would incur disproportionate costs however, prior to being appointed as magistrates, candidates must undergo an enhanced level CRB check.

Parc Young Offender Institution

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many cases have been referred to an outside adjudicator for breaches of prison rules in Parc Young Offender Institution in each month of the last two years;
	(2)  how many additional days of imprisonment have been awarded to children in Parc Young Offender Institution by an outside adjudicator for breaches of prison rules in each month of the last two years;
	(3)  what the ethnicity is of each child awarded additional days of imprisonment by outside adjudicators in Parc Young Offender Institution in each month of the last two years.

Crispin Blunt: There have been no (zero) cases referred to an outside adjudicator for breaches of prison rules in Parc under 18 Youth Offenders Institution (YOI) in the last two years and therefore no (zero) additional days of imprisonment awarded to children of any ethnicity.
	This data has been provided by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) from Parc under 18 Young Offender Institution (YOI).
	These figures have been drawn from YOI records, as such they are subject to possible recording errors and can be subject to change over time.

Prisoners’ Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the Incentives and Earned Privilege Scheme.

Crispin Blunt: Prison Rule 8 and Young Offender Institution (YOI) Rule 6 require every prison and YOI to provide a system of privileges which can be granted to prisoners or young offenders in addition to the minimum entitlements under the rules, subject to their reaching and maintaining specified standards of conduct and performance. The national Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme (IEP) policy framework applies to all prison and YOIs, but governors or directors may exempt prisoners from the scheme who have progressed onto a structured resettlement programme, for whom other forms of incentive will apply.
	All prison governors have devolved responsibility to operate a local scheme of incentives and earned privileges based upon the principles established under the national IEP policy framework. The national policy framework requires that establishments review and evaluate their own schemes annually to ensure it continues to be relevant to their local aims and population, including different ethnic groups.
	The national 1EP policy framework was reviewed in 2010-11 as part of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Specification, Benchmarking and Costing Programme, with the IEP scheme forming a component part of the Residential Services Specification. A revised Prison Service Instruction (PSI 11/2011) was also issued, a copy of which is in the House Library. PSI 11/2011 did not introduce any substantive changes to the previous national IEP policy framework.
	More recently an internal audit of the system was carried out as part of the NOMS's 2011-12 Audit Plan.

Prisons

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many incidences of (a) arson and (b) drug dealing were recorded in prisons in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: Information on the number of incidents of arson and drug dealing in prisons in the past five years is not held centrally. Recorded instead is the number of fire and drugs incidents.
	The number of fire and drugs incidents occurring in prisons in England and Wales in each of the past five years is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Fire Drugs 
			 2007-08 1.066 5.582 
			 2008-09 1.046 5.451 
			 2009-10 906 4.962 
			 2010-11 950 4,204 
			 2011-12 966 4,638 
			 Total 4,934 24,837 
		
	
	Drug incidents include seizures of drugs and drug taking paraphernalia. Fire incidents include all fires occurring in prisons including small cell fires. The number of these incidents that relate specifically to arson and drug dealing cannot be differentiated without incurring disproportionate cost.
	All figures in this answer have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. These figures may change should any further incidents relating to this period be identified and reported.
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) takes the incidence of deliberate fire setting (arson) within prisons very seriously and is currently undertaking work to reduce the number of fire incidents in cells. A Cell Fires Reduction Working Group is developing a strategy to tackle the issues.
	The Government is committed to tackling the supply of drugs into prisons. As part of the drugs strategy NOMS is investigating new technologies to tackle drugs and mobile phones in prisons. It is also increasing the number of drug free wings in prisons, where increased security measures prevent access to drugs.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many trade union representatives in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies had (i) part-time and (ii) full-time paid facility time arrangements in 2011-12;
	(2)  how many days were utilised for paid facility time by each trade union representative in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies in 2011-12; and at what cost to the public purse;
	(3)  how many days were utilised for paid facility time by each trade union representative in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies for trade union (i) duties and (ii) activities in 2011-12

Kenneth Clarke: For 2011-12, the Ministry of Justice (including its Executive agencies) had 40.1 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff undertaking full-time employee representative duties. The number of part-time representatives is estimated to equate to 128.9 FTE.
	As there are no central records held on the grades and pay rates of staff deployed on local employee representative duties, a disproportionate cost will be incurred to obtain this information.
	For individual probation trusts there are no central facility time records. This is locally managed and to obtain this information will incur disproportionate cost. Of the other non-departmental public bodies, the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and Legal Services Commission (LSC) have their own employee representatives and facility time arrangements. There were no full-time representatives and 0.05 FTE part-time representatives in the YJB. There are 30 part-time trade union representatives in the LSC.
	The Ministry of Justice and its non-departmental public bodies do not differentiate between trade union duties and activities when allocating facility time to representatives. The data are not held centrally and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Young Offenders

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many young people in all parts of the secure youth estate transferred to the adult estate due to their age in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many adult prisoners who committed suicide did so within five years of them transferring from any part of the youth estate in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many children in any part of the secure youth estate came from families where one or both parents are or have been in prison during the last five years in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The information is as follows:
	(1) The number of prisoners being transferred from the secure youth estate to the adult estate due to their age are not recorded centrally. The numbers can only be determined by checking individual records.
	(2) It is not possible to answer this question directly from centrally held records. However, we can provide information based on the offenders' ages at the time of death and when they first came into custody. As the adult prison estate can be defined as either those aged 18 and above or those aged 21 and above the following table shows the annual numbers of self-inflicted deaths for both age boundaries:
	(i) those aged 18 or more who were under 18 when they were first admitted to custody,
	(ii) those aged 21 or more who were under 21 when they were first admitted to custody
	
		
			  Self-inflicted deaths of those age 18 or more at time of death who were under 18 on admission to custody and died within five years of turning 18 Self-inflicted deaths of those aged 21 or more at the time of death who were under 21 on admission to custody and died within  five  years of turning 21 
			 2006 2 1 
			 2007 1 6 
			 2008 1 2 
			 2009 1 4 
			 2010 0 0 
		
	
	(3) Information on the custodial history of prisoners' parents are not recorded centrally. As a result the numbers of children in any part of the secure youth estate that come from families where one or both parents have been in prison are unknown.

Young Offenders: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many young adult offenders aged 18 to 20 years from the Metropolitan borough of Tameside were held in (a) young offender institutions, (b) local prisons, (c) women's prisons and (d) other parts of the secure estate, in each month since May 2009.

Crispin Blunt: All young offenders serving sentences of DYOI are held in appropriately designated young offender institution (YOI) accommodation within the prison estate. The majority of this accommodation is in dedicated YOIs, although some establishments in the estate have a dual designation (designated both as a prison and a YOI) and hold both adult prisoners and young offenders.
	The following table shows the number of offenders aged 18 to 20-years-old from the Metropolitan borough of Tameside who were held in predominant function male young offender Institutions, predominant function male local prisons, predominant function female prisons and other prisons on a set day in each month where data are available since May 2009. The data have only been recorded centrally since May 2009 and from September 2010 are available on a bi-monthly basis.
	
		
			  2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Prison function May Sep Nov Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan Mar 
			 (a) Young offender institutions 22 17 12 17 13 20 14 23 25 22 23 
			 (b) Local prisons 0 3 3 7 9 9 16 24 11 9 5 
			 (c) Women's prisons 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (d) Other parts of the secure estate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Information on offenders' residences is provided by offenders on reception into prison and recorded on a central IT system. Addresses can include a home address, an address to which offenders intend to return on discharge or next of kin address and these figures are provided in the table above.
	If no address is given, an offender's committal court address is used as a proxy for the area in which they are resident. These figures are also included in the table above. No address has been recorded and no court information is available for around 3% of all offenders, these figures are excluded from the table above.

Atos Healthcare

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 1 May 2012, to the hon. Member for Cardiff West, Official Report, column 1407W, on Atos, what the monetary value was of each contract between his Department and Atos in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Chris Grayling: The spend values for the five DWP contracts with Atos are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			 Policy area Spend in 2008-09 Spend in 2009-10 Spend in 2010-11 
			 Medical Services 111,800 99,100,000 112,800,000 
			 Tell Us Once—Tell Us Once Release A 2,568,409 2,214,608 2,471,873 
			 enGage (Government Gateway) 22,933,466 20,560,958 15,745,685 
			 Occupational Health 0 0 9,840,000 
			 Community Action Programme 0 0 0 
			 Notes: 1. There are £0 spend values against the Community Action Programme contract because (a) it did not exist in until November 2011 and (b) the outcome based payment model used will only see costs becoming due in early 2012-13. 2. There are £0 spend values against the Occupational Health contract because it did not exist in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years.

Child Support Agency

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure the Child Support Agency makes full use of its enforcement powers; and if he will take steps to ensure it makes such use of its enforcement powers after reform of the agency in 2013.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure the Child Support Agency makes full use of its enforcement powers; and if he will take steps to ensure it makes such use of its enforcement powers after reform of the Agency in 2013.
	The Commission has at its disposal a range of strong enforcement powers, intended to ensure all parents fulfil their financial responsibilities towards their children; and we are using all of the powers available to us where it is appropriate to do so - for example, we are increasing the use we make of deductions from non-resident parents' bank accounts and orders for sale of their property. In fact, the latest figures in the March 2012 Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics show deduction of monies from bank accounts has trebled since 2009. Additionally, driving disqualifications for non-payment have risen eightfold since 2008. Enforcement information is routinely published in the Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics which is available using the following link:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/pdf/qss/Qss_mar_2012.pdf
	It is important to note that the Commission will need to take into consideration, when deciding if and what type of enforcement action to take, a number of factors including the welfare of any relevant children involved and the likeliness of collecting monies owed. Taking enforcement action can be a costly process, particularly in cases where the non-resident parent is determined not to pay - we must therefore take this into consideration and ensure we maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of our enforcement system. There is nothing to be gained by pursuing expensive court action in cases where this has little chance of ensuring people meet their obligations and securing money for children.
	In the future, the introduction of the new child maintenance scheme will bring greater automation and in turn more alerts to identify quickly people who fall into debt. Once the new scheme is introduced, this will give us additional capacity to pursue effective debt collection, including taking tougher enforcement action against those who continue to evade their responsibilities.
	The Government has recently reconfirmed its commitment to introducing further enforcement powers for use against parents who refuse to pay, when the time is right. The proposed forthcoming integration of the child maintenance system into the Department for Work and Pensions will ensure full Ministerial accountability for the use of these far-reaching powers.

Disability: Grants

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made on the allocation of grants to user-led organisations to support disabled people; and what level of grants have been made (a) nationally and (b) in Yorkshire and the Humber in the latest period for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: Since the launch of the Disabled People's User-Led Organisations programme in July 2011, a variety of local disabled people's user-led organisations throughout England have benefited from both financial and non financial support.
	Since September 2011, six Facilitation Fund Boards have been held, 61 applications have been considered and of these 41 have been successful.
	The total amount awarded to date is £509,124.
	In the Yorkshire and Humberside area five organisations have been successful and received awards totalling £49,227.
	The average value of an award made to DPULOs in the Yorkshire and Humberside area is £9,845.
	The programme encourages DPULOs to develop innovative ideas to support disabled people. For example, in Yorkshire and Humberside funding has been awarded to develop a new model of delivering social care.

Employment Schemes: East Midlands

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are on the Work programme in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) the east midlands.

Chris Grayling: Official statistics on Work programme referrals and attachments up to the end of January 2012 were published on 9 May 2012. The information requested can be found via the Tabulation Tool which is published on the Department's website:
	http://83.244.183.180/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Employment Schemes: East Midlands

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Ashfield constituency have been on the Work Programme for more than 12 months.

Chris Grayling: The Work Programme started in June 2011. Official statistics on Work Programme referrals and attachments up to the end of January 2012 were published on 9 May 2012. The information requested can be found via the Tabulation Tool which is published on the Department's website:
	http://83.244.183.180/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Jobcentre Plus: Training

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training Jobcentre Plus staff receive to assist people with learning disabilities.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions policy is to develop its staff in the skills required to support a range of customers and claimants, to respect their individual needs, including those related to their health conditions. This approach ensures that they are skilled to deal with a diverse set of circumstances, while treating everyone as individuals.
	All Jobcentre Plus staff receive foundation learning which covers excellent customer service, diversity and claimants' needs. This learning encompasses the wide range of circumstances that our claimants may have, some less obvious than others, and stresses how important it is to look for signs where the claimant does not give us this information directly and to offer appropriate support.
	Jobcentre Plus personal advisers, in particular, have access to a comprehensive learning programme. The training focuses on raising awareness of the individual's personal circumstances, and also recognises that disabilities and health conditions can affect individuals in different ways. Disability employment advisers receive additional learning appropriate to this specialist area. Their training has been designed in conjunction with specialist DWP occupational psychologists to enable advisers to provide effective support to people with particular complex needs.
	All staff have access to the Hidden Impairment Toolkit which provides practical advice and guidance on how best to support individuals into employment. This approach enables the anticipation of reasonable adjustments at appropriate stages of the individual's journey to work.

Personal Independence Payment

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken in implementing the personal independence payment to ensure that those carrying out face-to-face assessments have information and training on deafblindness.

Maria Miller: The Department is currently in the process of tendering for providers to deliver the personal independence payment assessment from the recently announced Health and Disability framework, with a view to signing contracts with the successful providers by summer 2012.
	The assessment will require the assessor to look at the impact of conditions and impairments on individuals' everyday lives. This requires a very different skill set from those involved in the treatment of individuals, with less need for specialist knowledge. It is therefore not our intention to make assessors experts in every condition.
	Assessors will all be trained and experienced health professionals and will be required to have a broad training in disability analysis as well as on specific impairments, including sensory impairments such as deafblindess. This training will be supported by guidance documents
	We will also seek to work with disabled people and their representatives—including those representing people who are deafblind—exploring the scope for involving them in detailed plans for implementing the new benefit, including where possible in the development of training and guidance material; to ensure that they are appropriate.

Personal Independence Payment

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken in implementing the personal independence payment to ensure that disabled people with long-term conditions will not need to attend face-to-face assessments where there is sufficient written evidence.

Maria Miller: We believe it is right for the assessment to look at disabled people as individuals and not just label them by their health condition or impairment. That's why personal independence payment is being designed to consider an individual's personal circumstances and the support they need, rather than basing eligibility on any medical condition.
	Although we believe that face-to-face consultations will be an important part of the assessment process, we have made very clear that we intend to deliver this policy in a sensitive and proportionate way. Therefore, where we already have enough written evidence on which to make an accurate assessment of the claimant, such as from the claimant themselves or from individuals involved in supporting the claimant, such as their GP, specialist or social worker, it would be inappropriate—and a waste of public money—to require these individuals to attend such a consultation. Individuals with long-term health conditions or impairments are particularly likely to have such evidence available to support their claim in this way.
	Decisions on whether sufficient evidence has been gathered will be based on the circumstances of the case and guidance will be provided to support such decisions.

Personal Independence Payment

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the criteria for the personal independence payment will recognise the difficulties experienced by deafblind people in accessing written information and verbal communication.

Maria Miller: By reforming disability living allowance the Government wants to create a fairer, more transparent and sustainable system, ensuring that we continue to support disabled people—including those individuals who are deafblind—to live independent lives.
	We have recently completed a 15 week public consultation of the personal independence payment assessment criteria, and received around 1,000 responses to this consultation.
	During the consultation period officials met with organisations who represent individuals with sensory impairments on several occasions, including Sense and Deafblind Scotland. These meetings and the corresponding responses to the consultation we received have provided a wide range of very helpful suggestions about potential changes to the assessment criteria and have highlighted the barriers and costs that deafblind individuals face.
	I can assure you that we are considering all of these comments very carefully as we evaluate what further improvements need to be made to the assessment criteria. As we have said, the development of the assessment criteria will be an iterative process and if we need to make more changes to ensure it fairly reflects the needs of deafblind individuals, we will do so. We intend to publish a response to the consultation alongside a revised draft of the assessment criteria later in the year, once our considerations are complete.

Personal Independence Payment

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the face-to-face assessment for the personal independence payment will be accessible to deafblind people.

Maria Miller: The Department is currently in the process of tendering for providers to deliver the Personal Independence Payment Assessment, with a view to signing contracts with the successful providers by summer 2012.
	We want to ensure that all face-to-face consultations are carried out in locations that are accessible to claimants, whatever their health condition or impairment. Assessment providers will have to ensure that all sites which need to be accessed by claimants for their face-to-face consultation are compliant with the Equality Act 2010. Providers will be expected to carry out home visits if other locations are not appropriate or they feel that this would be preferable.
	We also recognise and acknowledge that for some individuals, for example those who are deafblind, attending a consultation at an unfamiliar location could create an element of anxiety. We have therefore made it very clear that individuals who are asked to attend a face-to-face consultation will be able to bring another person with them, in order to support them or remove any anxiety they may feel in undertaking this process.

Poverty: Children

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children living in poverty after housing costs have been deducted are in families with gross household earnings of more than (a) £1,000 per year, (b) £4,000 per year, (c) £6,000 per year and (d) £7,500 per year.

Maria Miller: Estimates of the number and proportion of children living in poverty are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household income adjusted (or ‘equivalised’) for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living.
	The latest year of data which are available is 2009-10. The following table shows the number of children with income below 60% of contemporary median income, After Housing Costs (AHC), split by annual gross household earnings (£ per year) who earn more than £1,000, £4,000, £6,000 and £,7500 respectively.
	
		
			 Number of children with incomes below 60% of contemporary equivalised household median income, After Housing Costs, by gross annual earnings of the household, United Kingdom 
			 Annual gross household earnings (£) Number of children (million) 
			 More than £1,000 2.0 
			 More than £4,000 1.9 
			 More than £6,000 1.7 
			 More than £7,500 1.5 
			 Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the 2009-10 Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living and is available at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=hbai_arc 2. The standard measure of child poverty captures children who live in a household with an equivalised income below 60% of median income, Before Housing Costs. 3. These figures have been presented on an After Housing Cost basis. For After Housing Costs, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, buildings insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are deducted from income. 4. Gross earnings have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and from self-employment. 5. The earnings bands requested are not mutually exclusive and the figures cannot be summed to provide a total number of children in low-income households. The band describes the lower band of earnings amounts. For example, the number of children in the ‘More than £1,000’ band will also include those children where the household has gross annual earnings of more than £4,000, £6,000 and £7,500. Similarly, the number of children in the ‘More than £4,000’ band will also include those children where the household has gross annual earnings of more than £6,000 and £7,500. 6. The earnings measure used here is unequivalised, i.e. it has not been adjusted for household size and composition. The low-income threshold has been equivalised in line with the HBAI publication. 7. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 8. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. 9. Numbers of children have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand. 10. The Child Poverty Act 2010 sets four income-based UK-wide targets to be met by 2020. The targets are based on the proportion of children living in households with relative low income, combined low income and material deprivation, absolute low income and persistent poverty, Before Housing Costs. 11. It was announced in May that the 2009-10 results will be revised when the 2010-11 results come out. Further information is available at the following link: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/hbai/hbai_revision_due_to_ni_tax_changes.pdf

Poverty: Children

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children in Gateshead are living in poverty after housing costs have been deducted.

Maria Miller: Estimates of the number and proportion of children living in poverty, before and after housing costs have been deducted, are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household income adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living and is available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=hbai_arc
	The sample size of this survey is not sufficient to provide estimates at local authority or constituency level. Data at regional level are available in the HBAI publication.

Procurement

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of his Department's expenditure on procurement has gone to small and medium-sized enterprises since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions' procurement and payment systems are not currently configured to report on the proportion of procurement expenditure the Department has with small and medium sized businesses. However, we are in the process of delivering this capability and expect completion by the middle of the 2012-13 financial year.
	During the 23 month period from 1 May 2010 to 31 March 2012, the Department spent a total of £901.8 million with known small and medium sized business suppliers. This represents 11.41 % of our total commercial spending in the period.

Remploy

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support packages are available for Remploy workers in stage one factories.

Maria Miller: To help the transition from sheltered segregated employment into mainstream employment we are committed to providing a comprehensive support package for all disabled members of Remploy staff affected by Government announcement on the 7 March. This offer will be for individualised support for up to 18 months and we have set aside £8 million to support this work. The support package is designed to be flexible and will be tailored to meet each individual's specific needs through the development of a personalised action plan. This will be managed with the support of a personal case worker who will make best use of skills and experience from partner agencies and organisations both nationally and locally.
	The support package will include access to work related opportunities available from Remploy and Jobcentre Plus employer networks and we will also be working with other employers, including local employers, and the Employers Forum on Disability, to look to offer targeted work opportunities to help affected staff find new employment.
	The support package will also include a personal budget to provide additional support, not available elsewhere, to help people who may have difficulties with the transition to mainstream employment
	The support package includes making £1.5 million available for the Community Support Fund. This fund will support individuals to become involved in their local communities as well as providing support for those who wish to make the move from sheltered to mainstream employment. Local disabled people's user-led organisations and voluntary sector organisations will be able to apply for modest amounts of funding to take forward a variety of projects or activities to support disabled people in areas affected by the Sayce announcement.

Remploy

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has received any expressions of interest from private firms for the Sheffield Remploy manufacturing site.

Maria Miller: Remploy's commercial process under way is specific to Remploy businesses identified as stage 1 sites. Sheffield has been identified as a stage 2 site and is therefore not part of the current commercial process.
	In stage 2, DWP will work with the Remploy Board to identify if it is possible that these factory businesses and Employment Services can be freed from Government control including through employee-led commercial exit and/or open market sales, and how this might be achieved.
	Further information about the proposals for these factories and businesses in stage 2 will be made available once Remploy have considered the most appropriate course of action.

Remploy

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what redundancy payment his Department plans to make to employees at the (a) Remploy factory in Acton and (b) other Remploy factories following closure of the factories.

Maria Miller: Remploy began collective consultation with employee representatives on 19 March 2012 on the proposal by the Remploy Board to close 36 factories including the Acton factory. As part of collective consultation, the Remploy Board will consider all proposals to avoid compulsory redundancy. The proposed redundancy terms that will be offered to any Remploy employee who is, in the event, made redundant are under discussion as part of the collective consultation process. No final decisions have been made.

Risk Assessment

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what strategic or transitional risk registers in each area of policy are held by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: It would be disproportionately costly to list the totality of the risk registers held across all aspects of policy in the Department. However, it may be helpful to set out how risk is managed across the Department.
	Senior Responsible Owners and the Permanent Secretary regularly brief Ministers on significant risks to delivery of both the Departments day to day business and our reform programme.
	The Department holds a Strategic Risk Register which contains those risks that are reviewed by members of the Executive Team and the Audit Committee, or which carry such a priority the responsibility for ensuring the risk is managed is owned by the Executive Team.
	The Department's risk management framework also requires that each Director General carries out risk assessments to identify threats to the achievement of objectives in their business area.
	For each of our significant reform or change programmes and projects their Senior Responsible Owners are required to maintain risk registers for the risks inherent within their area, which could include any risks inherent in the transition from the current state to the future state.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many trade union representatives in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies had (i) part-time and (ii) full-time paid facility time arrangements in 2011-12.

Chris Grayling: The information is in the following table:
	
		
			 Number of part-time and full-time TU representatives, May 2012 (1) 
			  Part-time Full-time 
			 DWP (2)1,488 16 
			 CMEC 142 3 
			 Independent Living Fund 3 0 
			 HSE 50 1 
			 Remploy 177 5 
			 Pensions Ombudsman (3)1 (3)0 
			 Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman (3)— (3)— 
			 The Pensions Regulator 5 0 
			 Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board(4) — — 
			 Equality 2025(4) — — 
		
	
	
		
			 Industrial Injuries Advisory Council(4) — — 
			 Social Security Advisory Committee(4) — — 
			 The Pensions Advisory Service(5) — — 
			 National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) Corporation(5) — — 
			 (1 )All totals include ULRs where appropriate (2) In the Department for Work and Pensions the amount of time available for use as facility time by TU representatives is capped at 0.2% of the Department's full-time equivalent staffing level at 1 April each year. This overall ceiling includes 16 full-time TU representatives. The number of part time representatives changes on a frequent basis but the most recent data available taken during 2011 shows an estimated total of 1,488. This does not include Union Learning Representatives (ULRs). (3) Indicates brace. (4) These bodies do not employ any staff. (5) No TU reps.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days were utilised for paid facility time by each trade union representative in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies in 2011-12; and at what cost to the public purse.

Chris Grayling: Individual responses for my Department and its non-departmental public bodies are detailed as follows:
	Department for Work and Pensions
	The Department for Work and Pensions is a large Government Department employing approximately 100,000 staff in a large network of sites across the country. There are 16 full-time TU reps employed in the Department for Work and Pensions and this equates to a salary cost of £416,000 based on an average salary.
	The monitoring of facility time allocations is managed by local managers who robustly manage individual reps' applications for time off under the facility time agreement. For this reason the data you requested are not collated centrally for each TU representative.
	I can however state that in the Department for Work and Pensions the amount of time available for use as facility time by TU representatives is capped at 0.2% of the Department's full-time equivalent (FTE) staffing level at 1 April each year.
	In addition, 0.08% facility time is available for use by Union Learning Representatives (ULRs).
	Non-departmental public bodies
	CMEC
	An average of 20.24 days per TU rep were utilised during the period 1 June 2011 to 29 February 2012. (CMEC use an accounting period from June to May so the only data available in 2011-12 are from June to February).
	Based on an average salary this equates to £201,836.
	Independent Living Fund
	Their three TU reps have utilised facility time as follows:
	Rep 1: 4.1 days at a cost of £318
	Rep 2: 19.7 days at a cost of £1,477
	Rep 3: 63 days at a cost of £6,368.
	Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
	HSE is unable to state how many days were utilised for paid facility time by each trade union representative.
	They are able to state that, in 2011-12, a total of 1,504 days was utilised by all TU reps in HSE at a cost of £209,295.
	Remploy
	Remploy does not keep individual TU representatives' records centrally and the cost of providing the information would be at disproportionate cost.
	Pensions O mbudsm an and Pension Protection Fund O mbudsman
	These bodies have had a part-time elected TU rep since last summer 2011 (the rep covers both organisations). They are still in discussions about a recognition agreement with the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and therefore facilities time etc. have not yet been agreed or recorded.
	The Pension Regulator (TPR)
	TPR does not keep individual TU representatives' records centrally and the cost of providing the information would be at disproportionate cost.
	The following non-departmental public bodies do not have TU reps:
	Disability Living Allowance Board
	Equality 2025
	Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
	Social Security Advisory Committee
	The Pensions Advisory Service
	The Pensions Regulator
	National Employment Savings Trust Corporation.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days were utilised for paid facility time by each trade union representative in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies for trade union (i) duties and (ii) activities in 2011-12.

Chris Grayling: Individual responses for my Department and its non-departmental public bodies are detailed as follows:
	Department for Work and Pensions
	In the Department for Work and Pensions the amount of time available for use as facility time by TU representatives is capped at 0.2% of the Department's full-time equivalent staffing level at 1 April each year.
	How the facility time is utilised in respect of TU duties and TU activities is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The monitoring of facility time allocations is managed by local managers who robustly manage individual reps' applications for time off under the facility time agreement.
	Non-departmental public bodies
	CMEC
	CMEC calculate that a TU rep spent an average of 7.15 days on TU duties and 9.35 days on TU activities during the period June 2011 to 29 February 2012. (CMEC use an accounting period from June to May).
	Independent Living Fund (ILF)
	ILF calculate that a TU rep spent an average of 61.8 days on TU duties and 25 days on TU activities in 2011-12.
	Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
	HSE do not hold this information.
	Remploy
	Remploy do not hold this information.
	Pensions Ombudsman and Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman
	This information is not held.
	The Pension Regulator
	This information is not held.
	The following non-departmental public bodies do not have TU reps:
	Disability Living Allowance Board
	Equality 2025
	Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
	Social Security Advisory Committee
	The Pensions Advisory Service
	The Pensions Regulator
	National Employment Savings Trust Corporation.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library copies of the facility time agreements between trade unions and (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies.

Chris Grayling: I will place a copy of my Department's framework and those of the non-departmental public bodies who have such agreements in the Library.

Universal Credit: Foreign Workers

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 23 April 2012, Official Report, column 653W, on foreign workers, how many new jobs are being created overseas by companies contracted to deliver the universal credit IT system; what conditions were placed on these contracts in respect of the proportion of new jobs created that must be based in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: All off-shoring work for universal credit is new development and we are not moving existing UK based work to India.
	Our IT suppliers have made certain assumptions around the majority of their future work being off-shored, not only to provide better value for money for the UK taxpayer, but also to recognise much of their skill base on key technologies resides overseas, and not necessarily in the UK.
	Off shoring of work by our IT service providers is not a matter for the Department for Work and Pensions. All of our IT service providers have global delivery organisations and it is up to them (subject to security considerations) where IT development is delivered from. We are unable to quote specifics around individual IT contracts as they are commercial in confidence.

Welfare Reform Act 2012

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress he has made in preparing regulations to support the implementation of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.

Chris Grayling: The Welfare Reform Act 2012 received Royal Assent on 8 March 2012. This legislation provides for the most fundamental reforms to the social security system for 60 years. The Act introduces a wide range of reforms to make the benefits and tax credits system simpler, fairer and ensures that work always pays.
	The Department has since been developing regulations, setting out more detailed provisions, which will be published in due course.
	The draft Housing Benefit (Benefit Cap) Regulations, which will allow for the introduction of a benefit cap from April 2013 as set out in sections 96 and 97 of the Welfare Reform Act, were sent to local authorities for consultation on 18 May and will be laid before Parliament in July.

Work Capability Assessment

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claimants of employment and support allowance in England are placed into (a) the support group, (b) the work-related activity group and (c) the fit for work group.

Chris Grayling: In England, 919,500 people have undergone an initial work capability assessment (WCA) as part of a new claim for employment and support allowance (ESA), where their claim started between October 2008 and the end of August 2011, the latest data available. Of these, 41 % were entitled to ESA; 13% were placed in the support group; and 27% were placed in the work related activity group. The remaining 59% were deemed fit for work.
	The Department regularly publishes data on ESA and the WCA. The latest publication was released in April and can be found on the departmental website at the following link. Table 1a in this publication gives the affected caseload broken down by region.
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca
	Notes
	1. The information above is taken from administrative data held by the Department for Work and Pensions and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare.
	2. The percentages have been rounded and so may not sum to 100%.
	3. The figures above only cover new claims to ESA and exclude incapacity benefit reassessments to determine eligibility for ESA. On 20 April 2012 the Department published data on the outcomes of IB reassessment claims at the regional and local authority level at the following link:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=adhoc_analysis

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 May 2012, Official Report, columns 185-90W, on alcoholic drinks, what assessment he has made for the reasons for the decrease in average weekly alcohol consumption for 16 to 24 year old (a) men and (b) women between 2000 and 2010.

Anne Milton: There is strong evidence that long term trends in alcohol consumption by the United Kingdom population have followed trends in gross domestic product. It is likely that average weekly alcohol consumption by 16 to 24-year-olds is sensitive to economic trends, including employment rates in this age group. It is not possible to quantify any contribution to the consumption trend from other factors.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance his Department issues to GPs on treatment of patients aged 20 to 25 who request cervical smear tests;
	(2)  what his policy is on the provision by GPs of cervical smear tests to women aged between 20 and 25 who request them;
	(3)  whether GPs are permitted to refuse cervical smear tests for patients aged between 20 and 25 years who request them.

Paul Burstow: The NHS Cervical Screening Programme is a population-based screening programme and women aged under 25 are not invited as experts advise that screening in this age group has no impact on rates of cervical cancer and can do more harm than good. There is no clinical indication for a cervical screening test, and it is best practice that tests should not be performed on women with symptoms.
	If a woman has symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, such as unusual bleeding after sexual intercourse or inbetween periods, she should be managed appropriately by her general practitioner (GP), which may include referral to a gynaecologist within two weeks for further investigation. This is set out in “Clinical practice guidelines for the assessment of young women aged 20-24 with abnormal vaginal bleeding”, developed by the independent Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening and sent to all GPs in England by the Department in March 2010. The guidance has already been placed in the Library and can be found on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_113478
	Women aged under 25 who request cervical screening but do not have symptoms of the disease should be informed of what symptoms to look out for in the future and told they will receive their first invitation for cervical screening around their 25th birthday. If a GP is worried about an exceptional case in a woman aged under 25, such as a victim of child sex abuse or a former child prostitute, they are advised to contact the local screening service to arrange a screening test to be read in the laboratory if deemed clinically appropriate.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the support available to people recently diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Paul Burstow: It is for the local national health service to plan and deliver services according to local need. In 2007, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued a clinical guideline on the management of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). The guideline recommends the use of cognitive behaviour therapy and graded exercise in patients mildly or moderately affected by CFS/ME on the basis that these were the interventions for which there was the clearest research evidence of benefit. A number of other treatments, including particular drugs, vitamin supplements and complementary therapies, were not recommended because there was not enough evidence to suggest that they were effective. The guideline acknowledges that there is no one form of treatment to suit every patient, and that treatment and care should take into account the personal needs and preferences of the patient.
	In terms of future provision, the health and social care reforms will support the improvement of outcomes for people living with CFS/ME and other neurological conditions. Improving quality and delivering better health outcomes for patients is the primary purpose of the NHS. Accountability throughout the system needs to be focused on the outcomes of care, rather than the processes. This focus on outcomes will start at a national level with the 2012-13 NHS Outcomes Framework, which defines and will enable measurement of the key outcomes that matter to patients.
	All five domains within the NHS Outcomes Framework have relevance for people living with CFS/ME and other neurological conditions. Domain two—enhancing the quality of life for people with long-term conditions as a whole—is the most immediately relevant. This reflects the fact that increasing numbers of people have multiple long-term conditions, and it is not always helpful to see their care from the perspective of a single clinical pathway. Domain two seeks to capture how successfully the NHS is supporting people with long-term conditions to live as normal a life as possible and will be measured using three outcomes:
	(i) feeling supported to manage their condition—this measures how well the NHS as a whole is doing in supporting people to look after themselves and handle the consequences of their conditions;
	(ii) functional ability—this measures how well the person is able to live as normal a life as possible, and by looking at employment ties in well with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Government's wider policies about getting people, back to work; and
	(iii) reduced time spent in hospital—this measures how successfully the NHS manages the condition(s) by looking at unnecessary hospital admissions and excessive length of stay.
	It will be the responsibility of the NHS Commissioning Board to determine how to deliver the outcomes in the NHS Outcomes Framework. The board will use the Outcomes Framework and NICE Quality Standards to develop a Commissioning Outcomes Framework and together these will be the basis for clinical commissioning groups to be held to account. The board will also support commissioning by developing detailed commissioning guidance and tools such as standard contracts and tariffs.

Diabetes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people with diabetes are receiving all National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommended care processes in (a) England and (b) each primary care trust area.

Paul Burstow: The nine health care checks for diabetes as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) are: HbA1c (a measurement of residual glucose), body mass index, blood pressure, urinary albumin, creatinine (a measure of kidney function), cholesterol, eye examinations, foot examinations and smoking status. NICE guidance recommends that diagnosed diabetes receive these nine health care checks (also known as care processes) annually. Primary care trusts (PCTs) are accountable for delivery of care and should be monitoring service delivery at local level.
	There are two sources of data for assessing the extent to which the nine health care checks are provided: the National Diabetes Audit (NDA), and the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) achievement data.
	The NDA contains 81.1% of the 2.34 million people aged 17 years and over with diagnosed diabetes reported by the QOF. Results for all PCTs that submit data to the annual NDA can be accessed via the NDA dashboard on the following link:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/services/national-clinical-audit-support-programme-ncasp/national-diabetes-audit/analysis-and-participation/2010-2011-analysis
	Ranking of results is colour coded enabling easy comparison of performance between PCTs.
	In addition, two maps in the NHS Atlas of Variation (2011) on the following link:
	www.sepho.org.uk/extras/maps/NHSatlas2011/atlas.html
	are specific to delivery of the nine care processes, and use data from the NDA. The Atlas shows that, depending on their PCX area, between 5.4% and 47.9% of people with Type 1 diabetes received all nine health care checks, and between 7% to 71.4% of those with Type 2 diabetes received all the nine health care checks.
	The QOF achievement data show higher numbers of patients receiving each of the health care checks than does the NDA (when comparing the QOF and NDA figures for each of the tests separately). The QOF data tables for each QOF year including 2009-10 at national, strategic health authority and primary care trust levels are available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/audits-and-performance/the-quality-and-outcomes-framework/the-quality-and-outcomes-framework-2009-10
	The differences may be ascribable to variations in scope and data assessment methodology. We intend to work with stakeholders to understand the reasons for the differences and to identify what needs to be done as a result.

Food: Hygiene

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the food hygiene regulations currently being negotiated; what assessment he has made of the effect they might have on UK producers; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The European Commission are expected to bring forward legislative proposals for amendments to the food hygiene regulations in summer 2012, based on information provided by competent authorities in member states and industry bodies. The proposals will then be subject to negotiation in the Council and Parliament under ordinary procedure. The Commission's intention is to simplify certain procedural aspects of the regulations, introduce risk-based controls for certain products such as gelatine, and provide scope for potential future amendments in relation to controls at slaughterhouses and certain definitions such as mechanically separated meat.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which has policy responsibility in this area, is in regular contact with United Kingdom industry representatives about the development of the Commission's proposals. The FSA expects that there should be some benefit from a move to more risk-based controls for certain products, but this assessment will be reviewed following publication of the proposals, and where appropriate the proposals will subject to consultation and impact assessment. Negotiating lines will be cleared with Ministers where necessary under established procedures.

Health Professions: English Language

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all NHS doctors and nurses can speak English.

Simon Burns: It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that the health care professionals they employ are able to safely and effectively communicate with colleagues and patients.
	All non-European Economic Area health care professionals are required to demonstrate their knowledge of English before they are registered with the appropriate regulatory body.
	Under the European directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications it is not possible for the regulatory bodies to systematically test language competency of EU migrants wishing to register in the United Kingdom. However, it does not preclude regulatory bodies from taking fitness to practise action against a registrant where their knowledge of English is poor.

Meat: Contamination

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with (a) his European counterparts and (b) the European Commission on the decision to ban desinewed meat in the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which has policy responsibility in this area, has worked closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on behalf of the United Kingdom Government in explaining to the Commission the full impact of their decision that desinewed meat (DSM) can no longer be produced from ruminant bones and that DSM made from poultry or pork bones should be labelled as mechanically separated meat.
	The FSA held urgent discussions with senior European Commission (EC) officials once the EC made its position known, securing an extension to the original five-day deadline for action. The FSA continues to pursue this matter with the EC, making the case for the UK interpretation, including scientific evidence to support that case.

NHS: Discrimination

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place to ensure that boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel do not take place within the NHS.

Simon Burns: The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful for service providers, providers of public functions and employers to discriminate on the grounds of a range of protected characteristics including race, colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins. All local national health service organisations are subject to the provisions of the Act including the public sector equality duty which requires them, in exercising their functions, to consider eliminating discrimination, harassment and other conduct prohibited under the Act, advance equality of opportunity and promote good community relations.

NHS: Discrimination

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place to ensure that (a) political and (b) racial discrimination does not take place within the NHS.

Simon Burns: There is no place for racial or political discrimination within the national health service. All staff in the NHS are required to treat colleagues and patients in a fair and non-discriminatory way. This is a guiding principle of the NHS, set out in the NHS constitution.
	All NHS bodies are subject to the public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010 which makes discrimination on the grounds of race illegal.
	Public appointments to NHS boards are made on merit and managed through a fair and open process, as required by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

NHS: Equality

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps his Department has taken to tackle health inequalities.

Anne Milton: Tackling health inequalities is a Government priority, part of its wider focus on fairness and social justice.
	We have taken steps to establish a framework to reduce health inequalities.
	In the Health and Social Care Act 2012,, we have for the first time ever, established legal duties on health inequalities for national health service commissioners and the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley). When applied, these will be:
	The National Health Service Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups are under a duty to have regard to the need to reduce inequalities in access to, and the outcomes of, health care;
	The Secretary of State has a wider duty, to have regard to the need to reduce inequalities relating to the health service (including both national health service and public health, and relating to all the people of England);
	The National Health Service Commissioning Board, clinical commissioning groups and Monitor have further duties around integration of health services, health-related services or social care services where they consider this would reduce inequalities; and
	The Secretary of State, National Health Service Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups have duties around health inequalities, concerning planning, reporting and assessment.
	We have also taken steps to ensure that, once established, Public Health England will play a key role in tackling inequalities. This has been informed by the report of the independent review on health inequalities “Fair Society, Healthy Lives”, (February 2010), which was led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot.
	Ministers accepted the analysis and approach of the review, and its key principles and recommendations, responding through the public health White Paper, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People” (November 2010), which adopted the review's life course framework, ensuring a focus for tackling the wider social determinants of health.
	From 2013-14, the National Health Service Commissioning Board will allocate resources to Clinical Commissioning Groups in a way that supports the principle of securing equivalent access to national health service services relative to the prospective burden of disease and disability. The Board will have a duty to have regard to reducing inequalities in access to, and the outcomes from, health care. Furthermore, from 2013-14, the Department intends to allocate a ring-fenced public health grant, targeted for health inequalities, to upper-tier and unitary local authorities for improving the health and wellbeing of local populations.
	To support development of evidence-based action on health inequalities, we have ensured that both the Public Health Outcomes Framework and the NHS Outcomes Framework have a strong focus on health inequalities.
	The University College London Institute of Health Equity, led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot and supported by the Department, will help England to strengthen its evidence-based approach to addressing health inequalities, and support all parts of the health system through the practical application of knowledge and best practice.
	Within a broad strategy to tackle health inequalities across the country, we are also addressing the health needs of those most vulnerable to poor health outcomes through the Inclusion Health programme.

Pharmacy

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much funding his Department allocated to services delivered by community pharmacies in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much has been reimbursed to his Department as a result of category M of the drug tariff; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when he plans to review the operation of category M of the drug tariff; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The overall funding settlement under the community pharmacy contractual framework (CPCF), since its introduction in April 2005, for essential and advanced services, is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Overall CPCF funding settlement (£ billion) 
			 2005-06 1.776 
			 2006-07 1.911 
			 2007-08 1.979 
			 2008-09 2.213 
			 2009-10 2.490 
			 2010-11 2.486 
			 2011-12 (1)2.526 
			 (1) This does not include up to £55 million allocated or the new medicine service, introduced from October 2011. 
		
	
	The reimbursement price paid by the national health service to community pharmacies for most generic medicines dispensed under NHS services are within Category M of the Drug Tariff. Through the reimbursement prices for Category M, the target margin of £500 million, at least, has been provided in each of the years towards the overall CPCF funding, set out above. Where excess margin above the target level is identified, Category M generic medicine reimbursement prices are adjusted accordingly. The CPCF, including medicine margin and Category M, was reviewed by the National Audit Office (NAO) in their report published in March 2010(1). As well as delivering at least the agreed CPCF funding, the NAO identified savings to the NHS of around £1.8 billion over the period 2005-06 to 2008-09.
	(1) The “Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework and the retained medicine margin”, 30 March 2010 is available at:
	www.nao.org.uk/publications/0910/community_pharmacy.aspx
	The Department and Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee are in discussion about the future funding arrangements for community pharmacy, taking account of:
	the Cost of the Service Inquiry;
	reviewing the medicine margin arrangements, informed by the recommendations of the NAO—such as extending the medicine margin survey beyond independent pharmacies to other pharmacy types, with a consistent approach on cost of service, and making more timely adjustments to medicine margin to reduce regulatory lag; and
	reviewing the distribution of CPCF funding to incentivise and support high quality and efficient services.

Radiotherapy

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he expects to make a decision on the level at which radiotherapy services will be commissioned in the new NHS structure;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure access for all suitable patients to (a) intensity-modulated radiation therapy, (b) image-guided radiation therapy and (c) other new and emerging radiotherapy technologies;
	(3)  whether the metrics in the 2007 National Radiotherapy Advisory Group report still apply; and what progress his Department is making on meeting these targets;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to ensure that patients have access to high quality radiotherapy services with an appropriate number of fractions.

Paul Burstow: From April 2013, services will either be commissioned by clinical commissioning groups or by the NHS Commissioning Board. No final decisions have yet been taken on which services will be directly commissioned by the board. Work is in hand to define the list of services for direct commissioning and Ministers expect to be in a position to confirm those services in the summer.
	In ‘Improving outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’, published on 12 January 2011, we said that ensuring that patients have access to high quality modern radiotherapy techniques can deliver improved patients outcomes and that it was the Department's aspiration to ensure that intensity modulated radiotherapy was available in at least one centre per cancer network. This has now been achieved.
	The National Radiotherapy Implementation Group (NRIG) is planning to publish a report on Image Guided Radiotherapy, setting out protocols for its use. This report will be available on the National Cancer Action Team (NCAT) website and NCAT will be providing an IGRT training programme for radiotherapy centres. NRIG is tasked with providing national support to local teams to implement national radiotherapy policy and to keep new and emerging radiotherapy techniques under review.
	The National Radiotherapy Advisory Group (NRAG) report ‘Radiotherapy: developing, a world class service for England’, published in 2007, made a range of recommendations to improve and expand radiotherapy services in England. These included the extension of the 31-day cancer waiting time standard to include all radiotherapy treatments, the establishment and collection of the national radiotherapy dataset (RTDS) and that the number of radiotherapy fractions being delivered should be increased from 30,000 per million population per annum (as it stood at the time of the NRAG report) to. 40,000 by 2010-11.
	The 31-day standard for all radiotherapy treatment has since been introduced and the RTDS is now in its second full years of data collection. Analysis of the RTDS shows that there were approximately 34,500 fractions per million head of population per annum in 2009-10. However, the data collection also suggests that NRAG had overestimated the number of fractions delivered at that time so the baseline was in fact lower than 30,000 per million per annum. The Cancer Outcomes Strategy made the commitment to undertake a detailed analysis of the RTDS data to ensure that the metrics in the NRAG report remain meaningful and current. NRIG has been tasked with undertaking that analysis, including a review of progress, and is due to report by the autumn.
	NRIG has undertaken a major piece of work to bring together the experts to agree radiotherapy decision trees based on best practice prescribing of radiotherapy fractions. A toolkit has recently been made available to commissioners and providers of radiotherapy services to enable them to make assessments of local practice against agreed best practice. These assessments should inform demand planning and discussions about variations in services locally.

Redundancy

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of his Department's employees have been made redundant in the last two years.

Simon Burns: The Department has made fewer than five permanent employees redundant in the last two years. As part of departmental restructuring and 'downsizing', 278 permanent staff have left the Department over the last two years on voluntary exits.

Risk Assessment

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what strategic or transitional risk registers in each area of policy are held by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: Within the Cabinet Office each business group is accountable for managing their own risks and are responsible for both maintaining their associated risk registers and ensuring that their business plans and all projects, programmes or activities which deliver departmental strategic or corporate objectives, include the review of associated risks and that any mitigating actions are implemented.
	Risk registers are kept and maintained as is appropriate, at working level. A list of all risk registers used within the Department and its NDPBs is not held centrally.